13729/Black Cat and the One-Eyed Jack

Black Cat and the One-Eyed Jack
Date of Scene:	03 January 2023
Location:	Conference Rooms - Hellfire Club
Synopsis:	Felicia and Thomas run into each other after a long while at a poker game in the HFC. Stakes are high but a surprising turn of luck sends both of them home with winnings and some rapport.
Cast of Characters:	Felicia Hardy, Thomas Blake

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Felicia Hardy has posed:
    Despite being the Black Cat, tonight Felicia is the Lady in Red. She's leaning back comfortably in one of the Hellfire Club's luxurious chairs, eyes on the felt ahead of her. The table's surface is adorned with chips, cards, drinks, and a couple of ashtrays. The white-haired woman herself has been poured into a red dress, a 'ladder' of silver filigree connecting opposing halves of the deep-cut v in the front. The rest of the way down makes it halt at her knees, legs wrapped in black stockings and feet tucked into matching crimson heels.

    Delicate fingers reach out, capturing the two cards slid her way, adding them to her hand. There's a thin veil hanging from a wide-brimmed red hat to shield her impeccable poker face from prying eyes. Even so, as she scans her new additions, she reaches out with her free hand and idly rolls a hundred dollar chip between her knuckles, waiting for everyone else to finish collecting their cards to stay or fold.

Thomas Blake has posed:
There several curses. Muttered grumbles. The table clears as the other players fold and decide to cut their losses. Like they can't afford a few thousand. Well more like one hundred thousand. But wait. One man stays behind. His icy green eyes watch her over his mirror shades. So far his winnings equal the current pot. They were more. A quarter of that is his ante and raises.

He slides his winnings in, all of them. It's called buying the pot. It is regarded as poor sportsmanship in some corners , but he didn't come here to lose and he wants to get a rise out of this woman who came out of nowhere.

"I think that's game. Unless you're hiding a way more than that dress does." The eyes glitter.

Felicia Hardy has posed:
    The night had ben uneventful otherwise, except for a very strange accident or two. One player spilling his drink, another at another table nearly setting fire to his pants after dropping a cigarette. Nothing *too* suspicious though, right? The Black Cat's machinations were more subtle. A shift in probabilities here or there, someone drawing a six of clubs when they needed a six of spades to complete a straight flush. Just. The tiniest. Ajdustments. Not that Felicia can tilt her /own/ luck, of course. Everything on /her/ end has been pure skill. And pure charisma.

    "Oh please," she takes a moment to use the fan of her cards to flip the veil of her hat up, just so Thomas can see her rolling those crystal clear and sparkling aqua eyes. "If you think blowing your load all at once like this is going to /impress/ me... you've got the wrong girl, no matter /how/ big it is..." she purrs and lowers the veil. The deft fingers of her other hand twirl the $100 chip and send it towards the pile while she slides her own stack of chips forward to join the pot. "As much as I like a man with /confidence/... I'm no shrinking violet."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake chuckles. "I know where I know you from... that hotel in Ohio where I was shilling for my show. I never got your name but I never forget a... face." He looks higher reflexively. "I did regret not putting you up then but... I could tell you were trouble, being trouble myself. Could I get a name tonight at least? I like to know the person I'm being charitable to after I win." He ands a chip to a maid bringing them drinks. "Thank you dear. Go and buy the rest of that costume."

His eyes narrow. That tip made him a little short. He pulls his watch off and adds it to the pile. "Show what you got."

Felicia Hardy has posed:
    "For your show?" Felicia quirks a brow, a low, purring chuckle escaping her as the maid is tipped and teased. To say nothing of the little taunt she receives. There's no answer, not until Thomas antes in with the watch. "Desperate, are we?" she asks, a little lilt of a tease of her own, as if the meaning is ambiguous. "Fine then," she lays her cards face down on the table, prepared for the flip. "Felicia," she states. "But that would be 'Miss Hardy' to you," she then adds. Even were her father not part of the equation, her name is well known in New York's social circles. She has money. And she has an incredible eye for fine art.

    Then she clucks her tongue, "On three, then, mm?" She flicks her tongue out, swiping it across the pad of one finger before resting it on the rim of her glass. She circles it, creating that soft little hum. "One..." Orbit. "...two..." Orbit. "...three." The glass is circled one final time and she turns her cards over at the same time Thomas does.

    What's revealed is shocking. Not a single person at the table or watching the high-stakes game could have predicted it. Two royal flushes. Felicia, of course, has the Suicide King and the One-Eyed Jack. A royal flush of Hearts, as red as her overly-revealing dress.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake regards his aces and spades as black as his karma. He looks at the beautiful woman's face. He smirks a little to himself as he begins dividing the pot evenly, retrieving his watch first. "This was a very unusual evening and a very unusual game, Felicia. I'm glad to see you doing well for... Felicia... Hardy?" Yes the Hardy name makes the rounds in the upper crust. It also makes its rounds in less savory crusts. Thomas removes his glasses. The conference room is emptied by now, aside from a very sleepy maid out of earshot. easier to doze that way.

"'Cat' Hardy said he had a beautiful daughter." He takes enough money for his monthly expenses and pushes the rest to Felicia.

"Please take the rest. Hardy taught me a lot when I met in in... the joint. He was always honorable and patient. I couldn't pick a Yale lock when he found me. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Felicia Hardy has posed:
    Judging by the expression on Felicia's face, she's surprised at this outcome, too. "Well would you look at that," she asks, laughing softly, sounding baffled. "The odds of that are, well..." she tsks and leans back, snatching up her glass and taking a long drink from it. She finishes the contents, a high-end cocktail in a lowball glass. "Ah, yes..." she says quietly, sounding wistful for a moment. "Seems like he taught you his card sharking skills, too," she quips.

    Her eyes light up when she sees the split that Thomas is doing. The rather generous bonus portion beyond the halfway mark. "Now now, I'm not a charity case," she protests, taking her half and sighing at the rest. "I already told you, your deep pockets aren't going to get you any closer to finding yourself under my dress..." she gives a little dismissive wave with her free hand before setting the glass down. "Still, you do play well. And any friend of my father's, well..." she gives Thomas a sideways smile. "I'll keep my eye on. Though you'll deign to give me the rest of the pot and withhold your name? Such manners when you asked a lady for hers."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake presents himself hand to his chest. "Ah well, my name might be crap weasel or rat this or that judging from the poor losers but, I am Thomas Blake, security consultant, gambler and reformed theme criminal known as Catman. Oh I also played Catman in Theme of the Crime. At the moment... I'm working on a fictional account of a criminal's life -the Feline. Did your pop ever mention me?" He laces his hands behind his head.

"Also... I am not a nice person to most but when I give something, it is from the heart and I never try to buy or extort love or favors. That's something your dad DID teach me. Anyway... you're his daughter. Off limits. And I'm already taken. "

Felicia Hardy has posed:
    "Oh let them mald," Felicia laughs, drawing her hat off now that everyone is gone and letting Thomas see the fluffy, flowing mane of gorgeous white hair she's got. Then she starts to stack her winnings, arranging them in neat piles based on denomination and total. "And I am simply a denizen of the upper crust, bored with debutante parties and finding myself preferring museum and art show openings..." she sighs. "Perhaps that's why I'm here, mm? A little adventure, a little thrill, far better than the latest debutante and dick-waving at some of these parties..." she clucks her tongue. "At least a little gamble gives me a chance to pad my bank account a little more..."

    She chuckles, then shakes her head, "Papa didn't talk much about his... acquaintances, and the ones that got him locked up, well, I wouldn't call them friends to either of us..." she gives a shrug. "Though good luck with your... reformation, and your book," she winks. "It's nice to meet a man with a little... respect. Have a good night, Tommy. Next time we meet, drinks are on me," she flips the final chip and adds it to the final stack before leaving a cool five-grand tip for the staff.

    "I should go and make some... sound investments with this~"