- >It's 9 o' clock on a Saturday.
- >Regular crowd shuffles in.
- >The pianist in the back plays a tune lightly, to serve as atmosphere.
- >The new patrons all find seats among their peers.
- >You're sitting at a table already, however.
- >You've been here long before they arrived.
- >You pick up your glass, and clink it with your partner.
- "Down the hatch."
- >She responds with a smile.
- >"Cheers."
- >You're fairly certain Trixie is the only mare who can hold a drink with you.
- >She's also the only one you'd allow to even attempt it.
- >She shoots you a grin.
- >"How many is that now? 3?"
- "2. That big hat is hiding an empty head."
- >You can't help but notice she's still wearing it.
- >"Hmph. Trixie doesn't need to hear anymore of that."
- >People revert to talking in the third person usually when they are quite drunk.
- >With her, it's quite the opposite.
- >with a sigh, you take another sip.
- >The table you're sitting as soon fills up quickly.
- >You would have loved to attest it to your popularity, but you know the true reason.
- >It's poker night.
- >The usual culprits sit down.
- >Donut Joe's the first to arrive.
- >Usually is, the sugar in his veins keeps him awake and alert.
- >Also means he has a terrible poker face.
- >No one told him yet.
- >Next up is Big Mac, sitting at the far end of the table.
- >He sits at the far end to make sure there is room for the ladies accompanying him.
- >Aloe and Lotus, you believe their names were.
- >Always in the company of mares, that guy is.
- >You're not jealous, of course.
- >That would be silly.
- >Then waltz in the Flim Flam brothers.
- >Those two are always playing an angle.
- >Do they play fair?
- >In the strictest sense, yes.
- >They communicate without speaking, like the scumbags they may be.
- >But that just means they have a tell.
- >And you?
- >You're just Anon.
- >And Anon's ready to play some Appleoosa Hold'em.
- >"Good luck, Anon."
- >Trixie leaves the table with an air of superiority.
- >She must think she's above such silly games.
- >A few hands pass, the favor fluctuating back and forth.
- >Joe's a bit behind, making some hasty plays.
- >Big Mac's been playing it safe, coming out slightly on top.
- >You've been able to predict most of the Brothers' moves, but one strong hang put them far in the lead.
- >And you?
- >...
- >Let's not talk about it.
- >How about we say this: Make a big play now, or go home sober.
- >The cards are dealt, and you check your hand.
- >Pocket 10s.
- >Not the greatest hand, er, hoof...but you can manage.
- >The turn starts with Joe.
- >"I'll toss in 12."
- >He throws in his bits, moving on to Mac.
- >"Eeyup."
- >Tossing in 12 as well, the turn shifts to Flim and Flam.
- >They make some silent gestures to one another.
- >In unison, they agree.
- >"Call!"
- >6 bits a piece fall into the center.
- >When the turn comes to you, you have yet to decide an action.
- >You gotta make something big happen, or you're not getting a drop of Applejack Daniels tonight.
- "Raise."
- >You throw in 25 bits.
- >They are not pleased.
- >"25? You know I'm trying to run a business?"
- "Pass or play, jelly roll."
- >Donut Joe sighs, and looks at his hand.
- >"Fold, too rich for my blood."
- >Big Mac once overs his cards again.
- >"Eeyup."
- >His companions giggle as he tosses in more bits.
- >The Flim Flams don't respond so quickly.
- >The try to hid their faces as they talk strategy.
- >Suddenly, they come to a conclusion.
- >"27!"
- >And they toss in the appropriate bits.
- >Another raise?
- >You don't miss a beat.
- "30."
- >The bits pile up in the center as you increase the bet once again.
- >Any sane p0ny would fold by now.
- >Luckily for you, these three have had some to drink.
- >"...eeyup."
- >Big Mac tosses in more bits.
- >The ladies swoon, gotta love a high roller I suppose.
- >The Brothers hesitate, but end up joining the bid.
- >You end this phase, placing your cards face down on the table.
- "Let's see the flop."
- >Three cards come down.
- >4, J, 5
- >Nothing special in the least.
- >Hopefully it's the same for them too.
- >Big Mac rolls his eyes.
- >"Eeyup."
- >He taps his hoof on the table.
- >Check, you safely assume.
- >The Brothers flash a grin at one another.
- >"Check!"
- >In unison, as usual.
- >Your hand didn't get any better, that's for sure.
- "Check."
- >The dealer flips the 4th card...
- >A 10.
- >Hell yeah!
- >Don't show it, though.
- >Big Mac lazily checks, as do the Brothers.
- "50."
- >Silence.
- >"You can't..."
- >"...be serious?"
- >The Brothers are astonished.
- "You heard me."
- >Big Mac eyes his cards carefully.
- >"...nope."
- >He folds his cards down.
- >Aloe and Lotus rub his arms in comfort.
- >You still feel like he won.
- >The Brothers chat for a second, but then come out strong.
- >"62."
- >Sixty two bits.
- >The crowd at the table gasps.
- >No one's more worried than you however.
- >That puts you all in.
- >"Well, hotshot?"
- >"Pass or play?"
- >You know them.
- >They always play an angle.
- >But you've already had a few to drink and are feeling dangerous.
- "All. In."
- >You put all your bits in the center.
- >Now that betting phase is over, you can reveal your cards.
- "Pocket 10s, good sir."
- >The Brothers stare at the cards for a second, silent.
- >But then start to laugh.
- >Oh boy.
- >"Just like I told ya, Flam."
- >"You said it, Flim!"
- >They drop their cards on the table.
- >Pocket Jacks.
- >You have got to be shitting me.
- >"We read you like a book, Anon."
- >"Feel free to fold now!"
- >No.
- >There's still one card.
- "Flip it."
- >Tensions are high as the last card is flipped.
- >Don't worry, you have a...
- >...2.564% chance of getting the card you want.
- >That's not...too bad.
- >You tell yourself.
- >As the card is revealed, the gasps are heard across the bar.
- >Everyone is stunned.
- "DRINKS ARE ON ME!"
- >You cheer as the crowd goes nuts.
- >Flim and Flam look on in despair as the one card you needed is shown.
- >You rake in the bits, getting praise from the bystanders.
- >"Looks like that's it for the night, boys."
- >Donut Joe takes his share and cuts his losses.
- >"Eeyup."
- >Big Mac leaves with most of his bits, and his two marefriends.
- >Flim and Flam, now down almost all of their bits, and with no chance to win them back, admit defeat.
- >"Well played, human."
- >"We'll be back next time."
- >They shake your hand with their hooves and depart.
- >Time to make good on your promise.
- >You take the stack of winnings and toss a bunch at the bartender.
- >"Tap, a round for everyone!"
- >The p0nies go crazy as they swipe their mugs.
- >You're the bar hero for the night.
- >You start to gulp one down.
- >One of many more to come...
- >As the night passes, you eventually find yourself drunkenly in the company of a random mare.
- >By p0ny standards, you're sure she'd be drop dead gorgeous.
- >You aren't entirely sure though.
- >Talking to random bar p0nies really isn't your thing.
- >Then again, you're drunk as hell and probably can't even talk coherently.
- >How can she even be interested in talking to you?
- >Oh right, bits.
- >You'd normally tell her to fuck right off, you're not a gold mine for her to dig.
- >Unfortunately that's out of your coherent grasp.
- >Luckily for you, someone else is there to do it for you.
- >"Excuse me, Ms. Two-Dimensional, I'm pretty sure he only has room for one mare who asks him for money."
- >The 'gorgeous' p0ny scoffs at the intruder and up and leaves, along with the drink you're fairly certain you paid for.
- >The conversation ender comes into view.
- "Trix...whadda...what're..."
- >Words aren't your forte right now.
- >And she seems quite aware.
- >"Alright, I'm cutting you off. Let's go."
- >She uses her magic to semi-lift you off the ground, like giving you a shoulder to lean on.
- >You clumsily walk out of the bar, recieving warm goodbyes for the free booze.
- >"What am I going to do with you?"
- >Trixie complains about your conduct the whole walk.
- >She kinds has a right to, you're pretty drunk.
- >Then again, who the fuck is she to tell you not to drink?
- >Who is she to CARE?
- >Eventually, she helps walk your ass to your house.
- "Thanks..."
- >You fumble through your pockets.
- >You feel a distinct lack of keys.
- >Great.
- "Trix, I can't...I thought I had 'em..."
- >"Thought you had what?"
- >"..."
- >"...oh you've got to be kidding me."
- >Now she's just mad.
- >Evident by her sudden ability to not just support you with magic.
- >But carry your drunk ass through the streets.
- >Eventually she makes it to her wagon.
- >It's a LOT bigger on the inside.
- >You'd marvel at it a lot more if you weren't so drunk.
- >Trixie floats you in and plops you on the couch.
- >She then falls on it herself, clearly exhausted.
- >"That took a lot of effort on Trixie's part, I hope you know that!"
- "Yeah...I must weigh a ton in...magical standards..."
- >Your current state is not helping with the fact you have no idea how magic works.
- >She sighs, and rests her head back.
- >"You can be a handful sometimes."
- "I'm not the only one, princess."
- >No response, you probably rustled her jimmies.
- >You'd apologize, but you could barely get THAT sentence out.
- >You close your eyes, the weight from the alcohol bearing down on your eyelids.
- "Thanks again...Trix..."
- >You manage to slurr that out before lying to the side, letting sleep take over.
- >You aren't asleep yet, though.
- >Barely concious, you feel Trixie get up from her side of the couch.
- >You hear her walks to another room.
- >You hear her come back.
- >Suddenly, you feel the comfort of a blanket covering you.
- >She sighs lightly after covering you up.
- >"Goodnight, Anon."
- >You can't respond, or even open an eye.
- >Hell, you'd be out cold, but you have no idea what's preventing you from sleeping.
- >Then, in a brief flash, you feel a particular soft touch to your lips.
- >"Please...don't remember that..."
- >That's the last thing you hear before she walks off to another room, closing the door.
- >You won't remember it, you KNOW you won't.
- >But for the brief moment between you recieving it, and your body giving into unconciousness...
- >...
- >Out cold.
- >You'll eventually wake up in her house, wonder how you got there and what happened.
- >But that's another story.

