Who: Eliot Spencer and Romana When: Evening Where: Bar What: Pool hustling and a round of free drinks Rating: TBD Status: Incomplete
Billy's arms lifted over his head in victory as another man slunk away from the pool table, his pocket lighter than when he first started. Eliot watched from the bar as he turned to slap hands with his buddies and then thumbed through the wad of cash he'd made over the course of the night, hustling anyone stupid or drunk enough to take the chance. "Anyone else want to take a shot?" he announced, his voice barely carrying over the noise from the TVs hanging over the bar.
Eliot rose up off the stool as the latest loser climbed up onto the one next to him. "I can't believe I fell for that," he muttered, his words slurring slightly. Eliot gave him a pat on the shoulder as he headed by, lifting his hand as he approached Billy and his buddies gathered at a table near the pool.
"Hey boys. Still looking for someone to play?" Billy gave Eliot a once over and, thinking he'd found another quick payday, grinned and nodded.
"Absolutely, man. I'll even let you break first." He held to his word and Eliot started off the game. Badly at that. The first game ended quick, the money from him joining the wad in Billy's pocket when Eliot knocked in the eight ball ten minutes into the game.
"One more. I've got a feeling about this one." He played it only a little better than the first and Billy cleaned up again. His ego was growing and so was his greed. By the third game, Eliot put everything he had on the table. "Last game, winner takes all?" he suggested, letting the mark hear just the right amount of desperation in his voice. Billy considered it before nodding once and throwing his winnings on the pile.
"Sure, man. Let's play."
Ten minutes later, Billy stood at the end of the table, staring at Eliot in shock as he picked up the stack of bills and counted through them. "Good game," Eliot said, an amiable 'screw you' in his tone as he walked away. The mark continued to sputter behind him, which stopped when he lunged for Eliot. The hitter stepped aside and let Billy slam into a table, dropping to the ground in a wheezing pile.
Shaking his head, Eliot headed back to his spot at the bar. After dropping a few bills in front of the man beside him to cover what he lost, he flagged the bartender. "Round for everyone," he said as he sat back down.