"Deal the cards, Jack." [Open.]

[Dorf (AWAY)]

"Deal the cards, Jack."

Dorf lit another cigarette and the fog in the room thickened. There were a lot of dwarves in the room, but humans as well. The room was some kind of dwarves' gentlemen club, but all races were welcome. Since two thirds of the room was filled with dwarves, goblins knew better than showing their faces.

Tonight, there was a tournament going on. A poker tournament. Dorf, who thought of himself as a intelligent, rational, hardworking genius, had a few flaws. He was a gambler. Not a big one, mind you, he liked to have his money in his purse, but the chance of winning the money from others was too tempting to lay aside. So he had signed up. He came to this club once in a while, and he was known amongst the regulars. Jack was a burly dwarf with a long black beard, and he was the one that was dealing the cards. He took his time and was telling jokes, until Dorf had asked him to hurry up.

"Can't do that, mate. It's not past eleven yet. Gotta wait for other players, there's still room at this table."

Dorf sighed and ticked his ashes in the ashtray. He hated waiting. Just once he wanted a bit of relaxation, and now he had to wait? The winner of this game could walk home with a nice prize. He'd love to win.

"Fine. Mhf. I'll wait."

Dorf looked around the room and noticed a sign saying "No vampirs allowed in the tournament". Probably of the fact that they could read minds. Made sense to him. He played a bit with his fingers and whooped as a third person joined the table. There were still a few spots left...

[The Magician]

Correction: Most sane goblins knew better than showing their faces.

Not that The Magician resembled a goblin in the slightest. He was often told that he looked like he was a human or a demon or some such race. On the rare instances where he actually listened to the person speaking to him, it would be difficult to tell whether or he accepted this or viewed it as an insult, or whether he even understood the words being spoken to him.

Past experiences aside, he probably wouldn't have even cared if he did look like a goblin upon entering this place. He seemed to always have been quite oblivious to the fact that dwarves and goblins were meant to hate each other, though he was quick to poke fun at the impressive beards they sported if he was feeling feisty.

Of course, he felt feisty all the time, didn't he? "Did you lose a bet?" he asked the dwarf at the door. When the dwarf gave him a curious look, he went on. "No? So you glued a beaver to your face of your own accord? And they tell me I'm insane!" He laughed maniacally and sauntered past the confused looking doorman.

He was wearing the toned-down version of his regular attire; no cape and no hat today, and the jacket went at the door. He looked almost like any of the humans in attendance. Almost, if not for the two strange masks he wore, half a clown's face and a bandit's eyepiece under that.

He slid into one of the remaining seats at Dorf's table with an over-exaggerated sigh. "So, gentlemen, what's your poison?" he said in a great imitation of a 1930s mobster drawl. "Black Jack? Craps? Slap Susie? Roulette?" He eyed the cards. "No, not roulette, eh? Shame, we could've had a ball."

He was not above laughing at his own (terrible) joke.

[Dorf (AWAY)]

Dorf observed the newcomer. Finally. Just a few more persons and they could start, this guy was really something. Flamboyant character. Eccentric. He couldn't immediately place what kind of race he was until:

"It reeks like goblins here." Jack muttered. While he looked at the magician. Some dwarves has very keen senses when it came to recognising goblins. The people who were in hearing distance of the table turned their heads towards the table.

"A goblin?" Dorf's hands almost went unconsciously to his magi-tech gun he carried, in case of emergencies. When he realised what he was doing, he let go of the gun.

"A goblin?" He repeated. A group of dwarves was standing around the eccentric, and strangely human-like, goblin. They didn't look happy.

"I can smell his stench." One of them said.

"Aye." Another answered.

And just before things could go wrong, Dorf stood up and raised his hands.

"The club's for everyone. I don't like goblins, either, but let it rest now." The crowd quickly dispersed and Dorf let his gaze rest on the figure. If the goblin was wise, he wouldn't cheat. That would cost him his life.

"What's your, mph, name?"

[The Magician]

The Magician maintained a perfectly calm facade as the chaos nearly ensued. Or at least as calm a facade as one can possess with a devilishly large grin plastered on one's face. At the initial mention of a reek, he had been quick to do an over-exaggerated armpit-check, but he shrugged afterwards.

"It's not me, I'm well and deodorized!" he said innocently.

As Dorf replied to the dealer's concerns with a chorus of 'A goblin?'s, he was quick to catch on and chanted, "A goblin? A goblin? Oh me, oh my, what a conundrum! Fee and fie, and don't forget 'fo-fum'! A goblin is nigh, quite the dumdum."

He gave a series of bows, complete with hand flourishes, but it seemed his audience wasn't nearly as appreciative as one might expect after such a show. He appeared to decide a different approach was in order, and he raised his arms in a friendly gesture.

"Do not worry, good old chaps! The stench that you smell is merely my breath. You see, I had a bit of a late dinner of goblin children and I haven't the chance to brush my pearly whites." He smiled wide, as if to emphasize the point (or rather, 'points'). But the 'points' gleamed brilliant white, regardless of their reputed unclean state. He let the grin fall as Dorf addressed him.

"My name? But I've asked you first and not heard yours yet! It's nearly a crime!" he exclaimed, sounding genuinely affronted.

[Dorf (AWAY)]

Dorf grunted. This guy was a fool. A nut. He didn't like his company, but then something struck him. He could always... yes... of course! Playing cards with a fool would be fairly easy. He would win quite a lot of money, playing against this chap. Yes. Excellent.

"The name's, phm, Dorf. Blackwater." He nodded while saying his name. He then gestured at the, ugh, goblin. Filthy creatures, really.

[The Magician]

The Magician giggled as if this was quite the entertaining prospect, a Dwarf named Dorf.

"Well it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Dorf. You may call me Gobben." He accompanied this with the best bow he could manage whilst sitting down. He glanced idly at the cards and chips, fidgeting with his hands. "What is it, again, that we are playing? Or should I say, 'not playing'? Are we waiting for someone to return from the restroom?"

He turned to look in the direction of the washrooms, and upon seeing no one headed to or from them, shook his head. "No, that's not it. Was I meant to bring a friend along? I could surely call one if you would like." He positioned his hand in the shape of a phone by his ear to demonstrate his willingness to do so. What sort of characters this being may have as friends was indeed a puzzling thought.

[Dorf (AWAY)]

Dorf made an ugly face when he heard the goblin giggle. What a terrible sound. His mood was getting worse with the second and the goblin was the cause. Dorf didn't like goblins, but he could stand them. He didn't hate goblins as much as other dwarves, but still, there was something wrong with this guy.

"We're waiting for a few other people to join the tournament. Play some cards, mph, have a chat. I'm, hm, mostly here for the-" And he pointed at the chips and the cards, "-money."

"And we're playing poker. Texas. Okay?"

[The Magician]

The Magician made an ugly face when he heard the word 'money'. What a terrible thing. The Magician didn't like money. Useless paper or coin or electronic signals that you get for doing things and use to get other things? A waste of time. He preferred to skip the middle man. Take things way back, goods for good and favours for favours. So he did not have any money, per se.

But he was far from poor.

After thinking for a moment, he kept his hand raised to his ear and used Call. "Edvard. You know who zis ees, correct? Good. I need for you to be ze payink me now. No Edvard, not zat. No no no no no. I vant money. Yez, money. I know, I know, ees silly right? I need money zough. You can find me? Tank you Edvard."

He ended the Call, but still held his hand to his ear. "Shall I invite someone to fill a seat? I could have them here in a jiffy, you know."

[Dorf (AWAY)]

Dorf just shook his head at the weirdo. This guy was ill, he was sure of it. Dorf felt his hand going slowly towards his gun again, but he resisted the urge to shoot the kneecaps of the guy. Even though the guy was weird, Dorf was amused by his little act. It was funny, in a very awkward way. The retarded guy of funny. But funny, nonetheless.

"Yes. Grmph, you can, uh, invite someone. But please, don't let it be a goblin. Please?"

Then Dorf coughed and lit another cigarette. This guy was getting on his nerves.

[The Magician]

The Magician waved his free hand dismissively at the 'don't let it be a goblin' comment. "A goblin? Feh, foul beasties they be. I'd never let one set foot in such a fine establishment, let alone invite one in. I don't keep company with goblins anyway. They're liars and cheats and they never bathe. It's horrendous, really."

He still had an air of disgust about him as he used Call again, turning his attention away from Dorf to make the call. When the other end was answered, he got right to it. "Ah, yes, hello. I'm in Liverpool at a dwarven gentleman's club of sorts, and we're short a player for a game of poker. I haven't the time to talk, so if you're interested, just show up. It shouldn't be too difficult to get here, there's a T-Zone not far from the place. Don't forget to bring some money. I'll see you soon (or not)."

And with that, he 'hung up' his 'phone' and turned back to Dorf. "He should be here shortly. I've never known him to turn down a game of poker unless it was in a park at noon."

[Dieter Helyanwe]

Dieter walked into the bar wearing Victorian garments. He had a nice vest, a pocket watch, top hat, and a nice coat. He kept some old formal wear for shenanigans like taking Dwarve's money. Dieter didn't always win at poker but he enjoyed the game. Dieter pretty much enjoyed any game for that matter. Granted he'd preferred if this was underground boxing but what are you going to do? Dieter sat down at the table across from Dorf and said, "Well good evening gentlemen."

At this point Dieter pulled out his pipe as well as his personal snuff. Dieter didn't skimp when it came to snuff and since he didn't smoke very often a little bit of it often lasted him a long time, well not very long by Dieter's standards. He lit the pipe and took a couple of puffs and then said, "I only came cause the Magician called. If he's in the poker game its interesting. Shall we start gentlemen."

[The Magician]

A pixie blasted into the building behind Dieter, flying speedily over to The Magician. "Best wishes on your game from Edward," the pixie said with a midair bow, before depositing a case on the goblin's lap and leaving once more.

"Right," The Magician replied to the pixie, before turning to Dieter. "May I have a quick word, old bean old chap old spice?" He gave Dorf the 'one moment please' signal and stood from the table, trotting to a position not far from where Dieter sat. He fidgeted idly while he waited, at one point even going as far as to pull a dove from his sleeve and let it loose.