"Really? Only once?" It was Vlad's turn to be surprised, although he restrained himself to just breaking his game face for a momentary wide-eyed expression. It must have been quite a game, for it to be the first thing to come to mind for his opponent when asked what to do with free time. "I take it the game was memorable. Well, I can see the appeal of it."
Particularly if there were actual stakes to wager. But it would have to be something quite worthwhile to wager in a game this chancy, especially if he didn't have his choice of the Emperor or Slave deck. At home, he could have a duplicate overtake Kaiji's will, or if the man's will was too strong, just look invisibly over the man's shoulder and give some sign. But they didn't play this game at home, and besides, most of the things Vlad wanted now weren't available either for purchase or as game prizes.
Without stakes, it could have been tension-free, and should have been, but Vlad had also neglected to consider how much he hated losing. As Kaiji reached for the next card, his demeanor changed. Not much... but there were other signs. The way he held the card, and placed it a little more firmly than the others. The way he leaned forward. Too many signs? It was this round or the next one--if Kaiji could lure Vlad out in this round, bluffing, then the game was over. Then again, was the other man the bluffing type? He'd been blunt throughout their conversation, short of speech, openly startled at Vlad's card choice...
It was easy to second-guess, and Vlad almost regretted it as soon as he had, but he put out the Slave card. Perhaps he was overthinking a friendly game and Kaiji was hinting to make the first round go easier on an amateur. Yet Kaiji had said he'd only played this once before, himself.
"It is an improvement over the sculpting," Vlad admitted in a tone that was almost grudging, then turned over the card he'd placed out. So long as there was no going back, there was no sense in hesitating either.
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Particularly if there were actual stakes to wager. But it would have to be something quite worthwhile to wager in a game this chancy, especially if he didn't have his choice of the Emperor or Slave deck. At home, he could have a duplicate overtake Kaiji's will, or if the man's will was too strong, just look invisibly over the man's shoulder and give some sign. But they didn't play this game at home, and besides, most of the things Vlad wanted now weren't available either for purchase or as game prizes.
Without stakes, it could have been tension-free, and should have been, but Vlad had also neglected to consider how much he hated losing. As Kaiji reached for the next card, his demeanor changed. Not much... but there were other signs. The way he held the card, and placed it a little more firmly than the others. The way he leaned forward. Too many signs? It was this round or the next one--if Kaiji could lure Vlad out in this round, bluffing, then the game was over. Then again, was the other man the bluffing type? He'd been blunt throughout their conversation, short of speech, openly startled at Vlad's card choice...
It was easy to second-guess, and Vlad almost regretted it as soon as he had, but he put out the Slave card. Perhaps he was overthinking a friendly game and Kaiji was hinting to make the first round go easier on an amateur. Yet Kaiji had said he'd only played this once before, himself.
"It is an improvement over the sculpting," Vlad admitted in a tone that was almost grudging, then turned over the card he'd placed out. So long as there was no going back, there was no sense in hesitating either.