Snippet #2568779

Zasha looked down at her cards, one lip curling up. Her hair covered one side of her face unless she pushed it out of the way or put it up, and she usually didn't bother when she wasn't sailing. Long hair became a chore with high winds. Hmm. She looked around the table at her opponents, sizing them up. Unfortunately her particular Haki wasn't any good for games like this, but as a woman she had other... weapons, when she cared to use them. There was a reason she liked to play poker with men.

The man on her right had an obvious tell, as did the old man in the corner. The others, given the odds of cards dealt and what they'd asked for, couldn't be holding anything that could threaten her own hand, save for the man across from her. Mal was handsome, but arrogant, albeit for good reason. He was captain of his own ship, after all, and had started to build his own reputation as a pirate with great skills. She couldn't read his expression, not entirely, but there had been a few nights some time ago where she got to know him fairly well, so based upon that, she knew what her move would be.

She took a long drink of her whisky, and put it down, leaning flirtatiously forward on the table."Check."

Everyone threw their cards down, save Mal and Zasha. He looked at her, raising one black eyebrow pierced with a small gold hoop. "Zasha, darlin', you think you can beat me?"

"Mal, I already have," she replied with a small smile.

He presented his cards. "Full house. Guess you'll be repaying our little private debt now, won't you?" A wide smile flashed white teeth in his tanned face. "I know you don't welsh on a bet."

The coins and jewelry in the center of the table was a nice little prize, but Mal knew her well enough to know that those things didn't matter much to her, so he'd written something rather interesting on a small piece of paper and slid it across the table at the beginning of the game. She'd grinned widely and returned the favor with a private bet of her own, one that set him aback, but he agreed to it. He was too much of a pirate not to, and that's what made it so fun.

She fanned out her cards on the table, smirking at him. "Looks like you'll be the one paying up this time."

He scowled, briefly, but his fondness for her changed that quickly into a grin despite his reluctance. "Indeed I will."

She took his IOU and put it in a pocket, perfunctorily pushing the rest of the winnings into a small satchel at her belt. "See you around, boys."

Most didn't respond, but Mal gave her an ironic salute. As fun as it would be to make him pay up immediately, there was something about anticipation that would make it all the better. Besides, she was in between ships at the moment and gaining a position was more important than Mal's admittedly numerous charms. The best places for that sort of thing was the taverns and shipyards, but there were so many it would have to be a leisurely wander, and she'd have to do most of it sober. How unfortunate.