a lady doesn't wander all over the room [POKER GAME]

[12second_orz]

Who: Tonegawa and anyone who wants to come play poker or just mingle!
When: Evening of June 5th, from around 6-9pm (travel home included, etc)
Where: Ukyou's teahouse
Summary: Tonegawa's hosting a poker evening (see here); hope you've got a good hand, because not everyone is going to play fairly. It should make for an interesting game.
Warnings: Probably language.


[Rather than nominating his own apartment as the spot for their game, Tonegawa has chosen to opt for more of an open house- in more ways than one, now that he’s allowing most people in provided they don’t make any trouble for him. The late Ukyou’s teahouse, while not quite in line with his usual sleek, modern affairs, seems a fair compromise, and better than renting something so serious as a conference room in a hotel- this is, after all, to be a casual game.

That said, he’s still had Western tables and chairs moved into the room- not perfectly in keeping with the décor, but to hell with having to sit on the floor for the entire evening- and made sure it opens onto a small private courtyard for the smokers. Drinks are served by a couple of the house’s geisha. Casual doesn’t have to mean sloppy, after all. He takes care of his guests.

They’re due to start at around seven, but there’s plenty of time to take in the spring rains with a cold drink and a little pre-competition conversation. Chat. Doubtless, the company will be varied- not too varied, if Laforet-kun is doing her job properly, but certainly worth a word or two.]

Comments

[12second_orz]

[Tonegawa doesn't notice her right away; in spite of her contrast against the other guests, he's too busy meeting and greeting to keep an eye on her. It's only as he turns away from the door that he realises that she's standing less than a foot away and watching him expectantly.

Unsurprisingly, he gives a little start. Then he narrows his eyes a little, readjusting his tie as if to readjust his entire approach in the one motion. The truth is, conversation- if one could call it that- with Chane has been strained since they spoke over the network in earnest last, chipped down to her duties and the delivery of facts.]

Laforet-kun. Is there a problem?

[fidele]

[ Unmoving, she doesn't react to that brief jolt upon his registering her presence aside from a flicker of her eyelids as she glances down to his tie and swiftly up. Force of habit. Her boss's lack of warmth in his voice is nothing interesting to her, either. The less conversation the better, honestly, when her purpose in catching his attention like this is purely for business.

After a moment of waiting for him to settle again, she offers a torn page from her notebook, pre-written in anticipation that he wouldn't refuse a question from an employee. ]

Am I your guard or door security tonight?

[12second_orz]

[He takes the note without a word, scans it briefly, then folds it and puts it into his breast pocket- at the office he might have tossed it for someone else to tidy away later, but he has company now.]

Just on the doors until we begin the game; after that, we won't be letting anyone else in anyway. After that, you'll be on guard duty. Understood?

[fidele]

[ So the security after the introductions are taken care of by the staff here. Chane nods, no less relieved by that fact than the given go-head for planning how to carry out her duty in this new environment. The surroundings are different to anything inside the Imperial Finance offices. It's what brings her to ask a second question, on another nearly identical written note, which she hands to him with the same lack of ceremony. ]

With others or alone in a room this size?

[12second_orz]

[A moment of consideration.] You should be more than enough. I know most of the people in here well enough; I'd be surprised if any of them turned on me now, in front of a room of witnesses, when they could probably get me on my own easily enough.

[fidele]

[ She nods again. To her ears it sounds like there's a fleeting implication that he would be an easy target without her in the room, and she cannot decide whether it means something about his own vigilance or her lack of ability. The consideration doesn't show on her face, and she folds the paper away, tracing a short step back as though to ask to be dismissed-- although one eyebrow is raised in vague question, in case there was more she had to read between the lines, a space for more orders before she took her silently acknowledged place at the sidelines. ]

[12second_orz]

[Tonegawa says nothing for a moment, waiting for Laforet to step back and blend into the background once again, but she doesn't move- she looks more expectant than anything, expression just hinting at some unasked question.

He bites.] What is it? Is something on your mind? [It comes out surprisingly neutral, without accusation. He's expecting something purely business-related in response: it isn't an invitation to get personal.]