TRP: Goro, Hansel, and Larkin (Poker)

**JEN**

[Setting: Day 240, at the castle]

“Goro! Where's my boy?!” Larkin kicked open his door with a
foot- tried to, anyway, because it was fucking locked, as always, and she just
stubbed a toe.  She muttered a curse and
knocked on the door again, with her knuckles this time. "Open up, buddy, I
got news."

**LINA**

After several seconds of rattling chains and turning
deadbolts, the door cracked open an inch and one narrowed eye peered out.
"What kind of news?"

**JEN**

"Good new. For me anyway. Hey, fucker, let me in."
The crack was only a few inches wide but Larkin pushed her fingers in and pried
it open until she could see Goro's nose and part of his other eye, too.

**LINA**

Goro relented, stepping back and letting her in. "'Bout
fucking time. You had some good news, I mean."

**JEN**

"Okay, you sitting down?" He wasn't but Larkin
continued anyway. "I'm back in business." She grinned. "We are.
Finch and I, I mean. There's a big fucking hole to fill now that Renar's gone
for good."

**LINA**

Goro narrowed his eyes again, more in confusion this time.
He stared at her for a while. "That guy?"

**JEN**

Larkin scoffed and went to chuck herself onto the couch.
"Yeah, that guy. I know, I know..." She held up her palms. "But
Finch is fucking good at what he does, and he's gonna raise a thing with or
without me. Better to be on his side from the beginning, don't you think?"

**LINA**

"Well, yeah. For sure. Yeah, fucking of course, I trust
you to find the smartest way." Goro thought a bit more about the
implications of what she'd just told him, and a grin crept over his face.
"So you're filling the void, huh? Fuckin' knew you'd..."

Be an improvement over Renar was the full thought there, but
he decided she might not like to hear it. He shrugged and kept smiling.

**JEN**

"I'd what? Take his place?" Larkin shrugged.
"Why not. I got Finch to do the boring management stuff, while I go hunt
for recruits. Hey." She pointed at Goro and winked. "You need a
job?"

**LINA**

"Psh. What do I need a job for? I got a damn castle. A
manor to sell, too, so long as that bitch you call an aunt doesn't show up
again."

You know you can always call on me for help, he thought
about adding, but... nah. Too cheesy. She did know, he was sure of that.

**JEN**

Larkin waved it off. "Yeah. thought as much. But if you
ever wanna start something, you know I'm game."

**LINA**

Goro thought about flopping next to her on the couch,
although she was taking up a surprisingly large swath of it with her small
body. He didn't much feel like sitting around, anyway. Truth be told, he was
real fucking happy for her, and it didn't seem right to treat this like any
other night at home.

"Hey. What's say I take you out for a drink to
celebrate?"

**JEN**

"What, you gonna drink, too?"

**LINA**

"Pff. I'll be the one who makes sure you get home safe,
how about that."

**JEN**

"Oh, come on." Larkin let her head loll back on
the couch. "Drinking alone is boring. Especially with a chaperone."

**LINA**

"We could bring someone else. Hansel could outdrink
you, I bet." Well. Maybe.

**JEN**

"Eh, I dunno. That'd just end in another fucking bar
fight. Though, actually..."

**LINA**

"Alright, f--uh, never mind on Hansel. Listen, fine,
I'll have a damn drink with you. A small one. Some cider."

**JEN**

Larkin sat up straight and held out her hand, grinning.
"Deal!"

**LINA**

Goro rolled his eyes a little. She was way too excited about
this. He grabbed her hand and dragged her up to her feet. "Not the best
offerings in Glimmerton, but eh, we'll make due."

**JEN**

###

Larkin kicked open the door to the local tavern- tried to,
at least, because it opened just that moment and she planted her boot on some
dude's toes instead. "Woops." She grimanced and threaded around him,
muttering an apology. The guy gave her a glare but apparently wasn't interested
in a fight and left.

Inside, Larkin beelined for the bar to order some whiskey
for herself and a big mug of cider for Goro.

**LINA**

Goro stifled a snort at Larkin's failed attempt to kick open
the door. He followed her to the bar, shaking his head affectionately.

She was so eager to get her drink, Goro didn't think she
even noticed the familiar figure sitting a few stools away. Goro broke into a
grin and started to sneak up from behind to surprise him--then considered how
if anyone did that to him they'd probably get stabbed, if anyone did that to
Larkin they'd probably get stabbed, if anyone did that to Morgan Wyn they'd
probably get stabbed, and Mishka at the very least would crack away. Hm.
Surprises, no good. Hansel didn't have the jumpiness problem, but still.

So instead Goro sauntered up from the side and took the
stool next to Hansel's. "Psh. All these new tough-looking adventurers in
town. The inns are turning people away. You got a place to stay tonight,
stranger?" Goro swiped Hansel's whiskey glass and took a sip, bobbing his
eyebrows, but he winced and choked on the liquor, which kind of ruined the
effect.

**IZZY**

Hansel had been at it for a bit. Got too restless in the
castle, so he did some work out on the grounds, and it didn't satisfy him. Went
and bothered Mishka for a while in a way they both liked to be bothered, but he
still had too much energy.

Just got quiet in the keep sometimes, somehow, and he had to
go be somewhere louder.

So he wandered into town to that one bar where they liked
him, and it was pleasantly crowded, so he hung around to enjoy the activity,
quiet himself until someone dropped into the seat next to him.

He gave Goro a deeply amused look. "Mmhm. I got a whole
fuckin' castle. S'only for the most handsome travelers like yourself, though.
Real exclusive." Then he gave up and laughed, grabbing Goro to hug him and
kiss the top of his head. "The fuck you doin' in a bar, chatichi?"

**LINA**

Goro hooked an arm around Hansel's waist and waved the other
one at Larkin, who was currently receiving their glasses from the bartender.
"Celebrating my cousin's big promotion."

**JEN**

Larkin raised both eyebrows at the sight of Hansel but
wandered over without hesitation. I'd be a lie to say it was a surprise to see
him here. More like, they should've guessed. She pressed Goro's drink into his
hands and lifted her own glass to toast him.

**IZZY**

Hansel gave them both puzzled looks, but clinked his glass
against theirs and drank before asking, "What kinda promotion?"

**JEN**

"Promotion?" She took a drink and glanced at Goro.
Yeah, of course he'd told Hansel already. Eh, it didn't matter.

"The kind where you don't have to do someone else's
shit jobs anymore. I get to choose 'em now."

**LINA**

"You know how I was always saying she'd make a better
Basha than the Basha?" Ah, shit, there he went again, saying things that
probably wouldn't make her as happy as they made him. He took a few gulps of
his drink, then shuddered. Stronger than the stuff Morgan had bought him in a
mead hall once. (Wait, had that been Morgan, or fucking Blue? He couldn't
remember. Eh.)

**IZZY**

He nodded approvingly. "Good fuckin' promotion. 'S my
favorite kinda promotion." Then he frowned a bit. "Hey, though. Still
gonna have time to fuckin' hang out with the little people? Don't fuckin'
forget about us, eh."

**JEN**

Larkin gave Goro a side-glance but had to sputter into her
glass at that. "Like I could ever forget you guys. You made my life a
fucking nightmare." But she smiled and lightly elbowed Goro in the side.

**LINA**

"Maybe you could hire Hansel for some jobs. Keep him
busy so he doesn't run off into the fucking boonies again." Goro took a
few more gulps. He was about two thirds of the way into his glass now, and
feeling lightheaded. Damn.

**IZZY**

"Hey. I'll run off to the fuckin' boonies if I feel
like it." He kissed Goro's head. "I'll just fuckin' take you
with." Then to Larkin, he added, "You need some fuckin' muscle or a guy
to stand 'round lookin' scary, though, just lemme know. I'm fuckin' down."

**JEN**

"I'll take your word for it." She grinned and
clinked her glass against his.

Then she noticed how far Goro already was into his.
"Hey there. Uhm. Maybe you wanna slow down?"

**LINA**

"Morgan said there's barely any alcohol in it," he
said, swirling the remaining contents in the glass.

**IZZY**

Hansel slid the glass over and gave it a sniff. "Well,
either she was lyin' or she meant that specific cider and not, y'know, every
fuckin' cider there is."

**LINA**

"Oh." Goro looked at the glass, then looked up at
Hansel, hoping Hansel could read the silent plea for help in his eyes. Larkin
would just laugh him out of the bar.

**IZZY**

"Dumbass," Hansel said fondly, and snatched the
glass away to chug what was left. "Larkin, d'you fuckin' bully him into
coming out drinking with you? Oughta fuckin' be ashamed. Y'know he's just an
innocent sheltered li'l cleric."

**JEN**

"Pff, innocent my ass," Larkin said and set her
own still half-full glass in front of Goro. "About time he learned how to
fucking drink, no?"

**LINA**

"Hey, hey," Goro said. But there wasn't really
anything he could say in his own defense. He kept one arm around Hansel and
linked the other around Larkin's. Couldn't drink if he was busy cuddling.

**IZZY**

"Pssh. Nah, see. You teach him to drink and it won't be
as easy to get him drunk. I mean, lookit'im." He grinned and scratched his
beard against Goro's cheek. "Already tipsy. Fuckin' precious, right?"

**JEN**

Larkin snorted and leaned in to pat Goro's other cheek.
"Sure. Such a cutie."

**LINA**

"Psh. Pff. Psh." Goro tried wrenching his head out
of the way, but it was impossible to do without also letting go of them.
"You fuckers. At least I don't..." Eh, he couldn't even think of a
good insult that applied to them both. Liked 'em too much, he guessed.
"Least I'm not a fucking... ah."

**IZZY**

"Rendered him speechless," Hansel said.
"Goddamn. Usually I gotta put somethin' in his mouth to do that."

Then he immediately realized he'd embarrassed himself, and
looked down as he flushed.

**JEN**

Larkin stared for a second, then burst into laughter. She
had to cling to Goro's arm to not slide under the table.

**LINA**

"Oh my god," Goro muttered, and pressed his face
against Hansel's shoulder. Then he bit it. Putting something in his mouth,
alright. Mainly just Hansel's sweater.

**IZZY**

Hansel kept his head ducked, not sure if it was worth
embarrassing himself more to also fuck with Goro. He opened his mouth and shut
it, then committed and added, "S'usually not my shoulder that I use,
though "

**JEN**

"Okay, okay," Larkin let go of Goro and grabbed
onto the table instead, sinking down into a chair. "I get it, you shove
your dick into my cousin's mouth. Fantastic. You two need a room, or...?"

**LINA**

Goro stopped biting to hiss through his teeth. He pounded a
fist against Hansel's back, then swung around to sock Larkin on the arm.

**IZZY**

Hansel snorted helplessly and dropped his face into his
hands on the bar at Larkin's comment, not even reacting to Goro flailing
against him.

**JEN**

"You know what, I-" Larkin took up her glass,
peered into it, then downed it in one go. "I'm out of booze. Be back in a
minute."

**LINA**

"Get me..." Goro started. But maybe that wasn't a
good idea. This place and their goddamn strong cider. He latched onto Hansel
again, remembered the comment Larkin had made, and felt his face turn pink.

**IZZY**

Hansel offered a thumbs up without raising his head, too
busy dying of both snickers and mortification.

**JEN**

The owner of the bar gave Larkin a quizzical look as she ordered
the new drinks, glancing between her and her two giggling companions, but she
just shook her head. He nodded in silent understanding and made her whiskey a
double.

"We done talking about cocks?" Larkin asked
setting a fresh mug of cider down in front of Goro, then she took a seat next
to him.

**LINA**

"Pff. What would you even know about cocks?" Goro
took a swig of the new cider, then half-choked and spit it back out.
"Don't answer that. Don't fucking answer that."

**IZZY**

Hansel kept snorting for a moment, then got his shit
together and raised his head. He opened his mouth to immediately talk more shit
but remembered in time that he was just going to embarrass himself again and
closed it with a snap. God, he had to think about something other than dicks,
and it was impossible now 'cause they'd drawn attention to it. Fuck.

"Uh, fuckin', anyway," he tried. "Uh. Hey.
Hey, are you fuckers any good at cheating at cards? I wanted to fuckin' make
some gold tonight."

**JEN**

"Man, I never learned how to not cheat."

**LINA**

Goro snorted and patted her on the back while shaking his
head at Hansel. "Can't believe you gotta ask, ahuv."

**IZZY**

He scoffed. "Well, I'm fuckin' not, but I got a poker
face that'd kill a man, so ..." He shrugged and jerked his head over to a
round table in the back, where a group of grim-faced fishers and out-of-towners
were glaring over their card game. "Help me clean these fuckers out?"

**JEN**

"Fuck, yes."

**LINA**

Goro nodded eagerly, gulped down some more cider--belatedly
wondering if that was going to affect his ability to cheat--and climbed off his
stool.

**IZZY**

Pleased he'd successfully changed the subject -- and kind of
fuckin' relieved -- Hansel tossed his arm around Goro to drag him in and kiss
the side of his head. "Was actually talkin' to fuckin' Morgan Wyn earlier
and I thought about asking her to help, 'cause she seems like someone who's
good at scamming people at cards, but I'd rather fuckin' do it with you two
anyway."

**LINA**

"Oh yeah?" Goro brightened a little. "You're
hanging with with Morgan?"

**IZZY**

Ah, fuck. Shit, shit, shit. "Nah. Just, uh, ran into
her." That wasn't a lie or anything. Just left off the part where he'd
wanted to talk to her and ask her a favor.

**JEN**

"Hey. Hey." Larkin snapped her fingers in front of
Goro's face. "Come back to our plane, you dork. We were about to earn some
cash. Don't wanna talk about fuckin' Wyn."

**LINA**

"Speak for yourself. Fuckin' Wyn is great." Goro
snorted and took another gulp of cider. And before Larkin could give him shit
for what he'd said, he pushed ahead to the table where the card game was going
on. "Hey, friends. Room for three more?"

Hm, they didn't look very happy. Normally he'd have adjusted
his demeanor to fit in better, but the cider he guessed was making him too
cheery.

**IZZY**

Hansel scoffed, considered saying something, and caught
himself before it made it out of his mouth. He went along with Goro, arm still
around his shoulder.

It was a smallish table, with four people already sitting at
it -- a sharp-eyed human woman dealing, a pale half-elf with a meager amount of
gold in front of him, a human man who seemed about more unconscious than
conscious, and a smug-looking half-orc woman who was clearly the shark of the
group. There wasn't that much room, but Hansel booted the drunk man's chair and
he jerked more upright, muttered, scraped what coppers he had left into his
hand and shuffled off.

Hansel dragged a chair from a nearby table over for Larkin,
repositioning the other to make space and dropping down to tug Goro into his
lap.

"We're not fucking playing a team sport, here,"
the dealer objected.

Hansel stared her down expressionlessly. "He's my good
luck charm."

She scowled, but accepted it. The half-orc woman snorted,
and the half-elf shifted and glanced uncomfortably at the new players. Hansel
dug a few gold out of his pocket, bit the coins to prove he was for real, and
tossed them on the table to buy in.

**JEN**

Larkin snickered at the looks the others cast the duo, then
dug her own cash out of her pockets.

The dealer gave her a hand, which was a fucking disaster.
Larkin thought about trying to sneak a new card in- with the right distraction,
Goro and she could swap- but it'd hardly be worth it. Instead, she put her best
pokerface on (the one with a hint of smugness), and shoved some more coins into
the middle. Maybe the others would let themselves be bullied out early.

**LINA**

Goro leaned forward to snatch up his and Hansel's hand, then
sat back against Hansel lazily to look it over.

Ah, fuck.

Fucking pile of crap. Larkin would help him, though. They'd
work something out together. Goro pretended to rearrange his cards and nudged
her leg under the table. He wanted to flash her a couple, see if they could
work out a trade, but his fingers fumbled and one of the cards fell face-up on
the table instead.

Goro smacked his hand over it, snickering, embarrassed.
Alright, plan B. He added it back to his hand and fanned the cards out so only
Hansel could see them, then put his arm around Hansel's shoulders and kissed
his cheek. "How's that good luck workin' out for ya?" He winked.

**IZZY**

Hansel grinned back at Goro. They didn't have shit, but he
could tell the half-elf didn't either -- nervous little fucker was trying his
best, but it was shit. No wonder he was almost broke. The half-orc wasn't even
trying that much. And Larkin was harder to read, but he was betting she had the
best hand at the table.

He had the best luck, though. "Pretty fuckin' good,
ahuv."

He went all in, smiling directly at the other half-orc. She
scowled and folded, and the half-elf followed her lead. It didn't much matter
to Hansel whether Larkin folded or not -- they were on the same side here, and
all -- but there was no reason to build the pot up any more with just their own
gold.

**JEN**

Well, looked like they were ready to take the pot. Larkin
had gotten a glance at Goro's cards though, and what she'd seen hadn't looked
like much. She could just fold now, and let Hansel take the price but hey, they
weren't gambling for nothing. Maybe her lousy pair of nines would do the trick
after all.

She tossed another coin onto the pile and nodded at Hansel.
"Show."

**LINA**

Goro dropped his and Hansel's cards onto the table for her
to see. A two, a three, and a five. He could read Larkin well enough to know
she wasn't hiding anything great in her hand, but it wouldn't be hard for her
to beat him and Hansel, anyway. He cracked a grin at her.

**JEN**

Larkin fanned out her cards, revealing her amazing win, and
stuck her tongue out at Goro before reaching to collect her money.

**LINA**

"Awwww," Goro whined loudly. "God. Our luck
fuckin' sucks after all." He gave Hansel a consolation kiss and climbed
off his lap. "I gotta go take a leak. Try and win enough to buy me
somethin' nice, at least."

**IZZY**

Hansel grumbled in a dissatisfied manner, holding onto Goro
loosely until he was out of arm's reach, then turning his attention back to the
cards. Buy Goro somethin' nice. He sure the fuck would.

The human woman dealt again, and Hansel kept his face the
same shade of vaguely annoyed blankness that it always was, when he didn't try
to do anything about it. Wasn't a bad hand at all, but he caught the twitchy
half-elf sitting up straighter out of the corner of his eye. Shitty poker face
on that one -- he had a good hand. He bet low, though, at least trying to keep
it from showing. The half-orc woman got this guarded look, on the other hand,
and she called but he was betting it was a bluff.

Larkin was fuckin' impossible to read. God, she was great.
Who the fuck knew with her.

He was decently goddamn sure he wasn't going to beat the
half-elf's hand, but he might be able to cow him into folding, and if he
couldn't, he bet Larkin could, the little shark. He called; the half-elf pushed
further; the half-orc scowled and folded. Then Larkin was up to either double
down on having a good hand -- regardless of whether she actually did -- and
chip in more gold and risk losing it to the half-elf, or give in and let Hansel
either do the same or try to intimidate the fucker into folding.

**JEN**

The half-elf didn't have to show his cards for Larkin to
know what he had- he could've been a dog wagging his tail for all the good his
poker face did him. Larkin bet she could make him believe she had a good hand
but even then, his was probably better. She glanced at Hansel who was busy
staring him down, and and folded with a scowl. It was his turn now. Maybe she
could help him out, though.

Larkin took a sip of her drink and let her other hand fall
under the table casually, with a card from her deck between her fingers...
which then promptly slipped out of her grasp and landed on the floor. She
cursed silently, keeping her pokerface up, and put a foot down on the card to
hide it from view.

**IZZY**

Larkin gave, scowling, which made her fucking bluff even
more impressive. Hm. Damn, if she was folding after that, maybe Hansel ought
to, too. But he wanted to buy Goro something nice.

The half-elf definitely had a good hand, but he was a
twitchy little fucker -- Hansel raised, fixing him with a flat stare. The
half-elf raised in turn. This was getting dangerous, and Hansel remembered he
wasn't supposed to gamble because he got too stubborn and competitive and
pissed about losing -- someone was supposed to be there to tell him to back
down. Maybe Goro was supposed to've done that. Hansel probably should've
mentioned.

He raised, and told himself, All right, just one more. Your
hand ain't that good, and the when the half-elf raised again, he went all in.
That was, technically, just one more, but also he was fairly sure he was following
the letter of his own rule instead of the spirit of it.

Ah, Goro was going to be so disappointed he'd lost all his
gold so fast. Dammit. Maybe Larkin'd give him a loan.

The half-elf shook his head and folded, defeated. Hansel
broke his glower to grin and snort, tossing his middling hand onto the table as
he scraped the gold over, and the half-elf swore and threw down a hand that
would've absolutely beat it. He shoved away from the table and stormed off,
broke. The other half-orc snickered at his retreat.

Hansel pitched a bit of his winnings back into the middle of
the table. "Deal."

**JEN**

The half-elf booked it and Larkin burst out laughing.
"Fuck, man," she said, clapping Hansel on the shoulder.

The dealer handed out and Larkin's face went blank again.
Maybe a bit too fast, because god dammit, what a shitty hand. She tapped her
foot on the lost card still lying on the floor, considering. Eh, there was only
another five down there but at least she could do a tripple with those. Not great
but something.

She emptied her glass, then signaled to the others to stall
while she flagged down the bartender. Couldn't very well get up now, but he got
the hint and came over with a bottle in hand to give her a refill.

 Larkin hid her deck
in her hand while searching for a coin to pay, which then, oh very
unfortunately, dropped to the floor. She cursed a little and the man rolled his
eyes impatiently but then she found the stupid thing hiding by her boot and
handed it to him while the fingers of her other hand joined the lost card with
its brethren.

**IZZY**

Hansel kept his smug grin in place when he got his cards,
but the expression froze a bit. Yeah, he wasn't good enough at this to bluff
having something good when he actually had fuck-all. He glanced across the
table at the half-orc woman, and over at Larkin as she was signaling for a
fresh drink. The half-orc was looking cagey -- he couldn't read her. Nah, fuck
it. He scowled and folded straight away.

The half-orc sneered at him and muttered an insult in
orcish. He flipped her off, not really giving a shit, and downed his whiskey --
then, ah, too bad, as he turned to raise his glass towards a waiter, the damn
thing just slipped right out of his hand and smashed to the floor. Big
distraction. Wasn't that just a shame. Big clumsy drunk oaf, and all.

**JEN**

As perfect as the moment was, there was simply no way Larkin
could make her hand any better. Larkin caught a glimpse of Hansel's hand but
nothing there would be of any help. Instead, she tried reading the half-orc...
which turned out to be fucking futile, too.

Well, shit. Sometimes there was just no winning. Larkin
folded as well and shoved the money over.

**IZZY**

The half-orc snarled out a laugh at the two of them, but it
wasn't like she'd won that fuckin' much in that round. Hansel scowled and
bought into the next one. Fucksake. This hand was barely any better. He
squinted at the half-orc, and couldn't read her -- maybe he was too fucking
drunk for this.

He glanced down at his winnings. That one good round had
been fucking great. He decided to cut his losses and folded before he lost any
more of what he'd made, and scraped his chair back loudly to prop a boot
against the table, rattling it.

The dealer swore at him, grabbing the table to stabilize it.
"If you don't fucking stop --."

He fixed her with a look. "Fuckin' make me."

She backed down. The other half-orc snickered again.

**JEN**

Larkin glanced at her hand and, before she could stop
herself, cursed under her breath. The half-orc across from her grinned and
wagged her eyebrows, which Larkin commented with a raised middle finger.

A fucking shame it was but with these odds, she didn't want
to buy in and lose more than necessary, so Larkin folded, too, and hid her face
behind her glass.

**IZZY**

Hansel tapped his boot against the edge of the table, making
it shake again and making the dealer growl at him. This was getting boring.
Shame Goro wasn't back yet. Goro'd be all cheating and sitting in his lap.
That'd be great.

He elbowed Larkin and signed to her in nighthand. Wanna fuck
shit up?

**JEN**

"Hey, the fuck you doin' over there," the other
player muttered, but Larkin ignored her while squinting at the signs. Fucking
nighthand, garbage sign language. But she got the meaning and flashed Hansel a
grin. Yeah, that'd be fun.

**IZZY**

He grinned back, and kicked the fucking table properly,
sending it crashing onto its side and into the half-orc. She yelled, shooting
upright as gold and glasses clattered onto the floor, and he rammed his
shoulder into the underside of the table to knock her over.

The dealer leapt to her feet, too, whipping out a knife but
looking more alarmed than ready to fight. Hansel left her for Larkin to deal
with, vaulting over the table to land on the other half-orc and tangle with
her.

**JEN**

Larkin was on her feet even before the dealer, and had her
knuckles on in the blink of an eye. The dealer went pale at the sight of them,
the knife in her hand almost forgotten. She backed away, looking around for any
of the other guests to help her.

"Come on," Larkin urged, and waved a hand,
grinning. "Come here. What, you scared?`"

**IZZY**

Between the table and his fists, Hansel made quick work of
the half-orc woman. She had a sword, but it was on her back, pinned under her,
and she clawed and swung at his face but didn't do enough damage to run him
off. Once she was down for the count, he scraped up her gold and pushed himself
up to see how Larkin was faring.

**JEN**

The half-elf slashed at her, but it was easy to tell she
didn't mean it. Larkin avoided the blade and stepped in, grabbing at the hand
holding the knife and swinging at her opponent's face-who managed to dodge and
rip her hand free, leaving the knife in Larkin's possession, then turned tail
and bolted out of the bar. Probably a fucking wise move, because out of the
corner of her eye, Larkin saw the barkeeper bringing a nasty looking baton up
from under the bar to deal with the troublemakers.

**LINA**

Goro walked back inside, hands held out to keep from getting
blood on his robes, planning to ask the bartender for a wet rag. Couldn't even
take a fucking piss out back without someone trying to rob him at knifepoint.
Fuck's sake.

He took two steps through the doorway and froze, looking
around and taking in the scene.

"The fuck are you two doing?" he yelled. "I
leave for five fucking minutes--"

**IZZY**

"Got bored," Hansel said, hopping back over the
table. He eyed the barkeep. The guy probably recognized them as Runners and
wouldn't want to tangle with'em, but he looked like he'd give it a shot.

He guessed this was probably another bar he wouldn't be
welcome back in. Dammit. Really had to start thinking ahead about this shit.

**JEN**

"We, uh, might wanna go, though," Larkin added
with a glance at the baton. The barkeep made a grim face and nodded once.

**LINA**

"Hey," Goro called to the bartender. "You
mind if I get a wet rag before we leave?"

The man stared hard at Goro and didn't answer.

"Uh, you know, I'll wash my hands off in the
river," Goro said. "It's fine."

**IZZY**

Hansel snickered. He headed for the door, pausing to ruffle
Goro's hair and kiss the top of his head before going on out. Yeah, he was
gonna buy Goro somethin' real nice. This was a good night.

**JEN**

Larkin stalked across the fallen table towards the door,
giving the barkeep a nasty look. "Could've given my cuz a wet rag at
least, asshole."

"Oh, yeah?" He snarled and lifted the baton.
"Can fuckin' give you a piece of this!" He took a step forward,
making to swing at her.

**LINA**

"Hey!" Goro shouted. Fuck leaving quietly if this
guy was gonna go after Larkin like that. Goro grabbed her arm to shift her out
of the way and threw a hand out towards the barkeep, summoning a little radiant
flame down on him. Just enough to give him a singe. The man shrieked and danced
in place, and Goro tugged Larkin out the door.

**IZZY**

Hansel wasn't there when they got outside.

**JEN**

"The fuck's that guy now?" Larkin muttered looking
around. The street was dark and silent.

**LINA**

Goro cupped his hands around his mouth. "Hansel!"

**IZZY**

There was no response.

**JEN**

A few feet away, Larkin spotted a dark streak on the ground.
She squinted at it and pointed for Goro to see. "That your doing,
or...?"

**LINA**

Goro scuttled closer for a better look. "Sure fucking
isn't." It wasn't that much blood, but still. Now he was fucking freaked.
He dropped to his knees, folded his bloody hands together, and said a prayer.
He Sent a message to Hansel. Where the fuck you at?

**IZZY**

There was no response.

**LINA**

Goro whimpered pathetically and checked his vitality
bracelet. Hansel sure wasn't at full health, but he hadn't taken enough of a
hit to be unconscious, either. Maybe he'd passed out drunk. Fuckin' where?

"Larkin," he wailed. "Help. Where's my
boyfriend?"

**JEN**

"I don't fucking know." She kept looking around
but not seeing anything new. Fucking shit. Something told her Hansel wouldn't
turn up again if they just kept standing here so she grabbed Goro by a sleeve
and dragged him along down the street. "Don't worry," she told him,
"we're gonna find him."

**LINA**

Goro let Larkin drag him along, but he kept praying,
muttering under his breath. He closed his eyes, focusing on Hansel's vitality
bracelet, until he felt a tug in the direction of the river.

"Hang on." He tugged against Larkin's hold.
"This way. He's this way. My spell... thing. C'mon."

**JEN**

"What..." Larkin started but left it at that.
Spell Thing. Alright.

They wandered off the main road and through a few short
alleys until they wound up down by the river. A few lanterns still burned on
the docks but still no sign of Hansel. Larkin looked to Goro, waiting.

**LINA**

Goro narrowed his eyes at one of the huts, and the man
standing guard outside it. He sauntered up to the guy and looked him up and
down. He jerked his chin at him. "The fuck are you?"

**IZZY**

The guy looked down at him.

"The fuck are you?"

**JEN**

"We're looking for someone," Larkin spoke up
behind Goro, arms crossed before her. "Big fellow. Missing a tusk. Swears
a lot. Seen him?"

**LINA**

"He's real hot," Goro offered.

**IZZY**

"Haven't seen'im," the guy lied.

**JEN**

Larkin snorted. "Bullshit."

**LINA**

"Hansel!" Goro yelled at the hut.

**IZZY**

The guy scowled. He shifted uncomfortably, dropping a hand
to his sword. "Get lost, punks."

**JEN**

"Yeah, we fucking will... after we got our guy
back." Larkin positioned herself next to Goro, fingers tapping against the
hilt of her dagger.

**LINA**

"I'm a cleric," Goro slurred. "I can make
festering wounds--" He gestured up and down at the man's body, making a
spluttering sound effect with his mouth.

**IZZY**

The guy looked unimpressed, and moderately confused. He
looked past Goro and Larkin, and whistled sharply.

Turning his gaze back to them, he drew his sword a couple
inches out of its sheath. "I'm gonna fuckin' give you dicks one more
chance to clear off."

**JEN**

Larkin gave Goro a look mirroring the guy's confusion, then
glanced over her shoulder. Sure enough, there were more of those assholes
advancing.

"Hey," she said quietly, "maybe we should get
out-"

**LINA**

Goro reeled his arm back and smacked the guard on the chest,
intending to inflict wounds on him, but his hand just clanged off metal.
"Uh oh," Goro muttered.

**IZZY**

For a second the guy just looked down at Goro's hand,
baffled. Then he said, "All right, asshole," and drew his sword,
bashing the pommel against the door to alert whoever was inside. From behind
Larkin and Goro, there came the sound of two more swords being unsheathed.

**JEN**

Larkin used the moment the other thugs weren't on them yet
to rip her rapier free of its sheath and swing at the guy in front of them.
Unfortunately, he got his sword up in time and her blade clanked off his. She
twisted away from his counter attack and took a couple steps back, turning
sideways so  at least none of their
attackers were in her back.

**LINA**

"Gimme my fucking boyfriend back!" Goro yelled. He
hit the guard in the chest again, but this time it was to paralyze him. He
shoved the man's collapsing body out of his way and grabbed the door to the
hut, yanking fruitlessly against the handle.

**IZZY**

The doorman flopped uncerimoniously to the ground and lay there
in a useless puddle, which gave the other two a moment's pause -- but as Goro
rattled the doorknob, they advanced on Larkin anyway. Both of them slashed at
her, but she was too quick for them.

This gave them another moment's pause. One glanced at the
other uncertainly, realizing they might be outmatched here by a plastered
spellcaster and a tiny tiefling, but they held their ground for now.

There was no reaction from inside the hut.

**JEN**

"Come on, guys," Larkin said, rapier raised and on
guard. "Just let us take our pal, no fuckin' need get fucked up."

**LINA**

Goro kept yelling and shaking the door handle, then
remembered he had a magic solution for this kind of situation. He closed his
eyes and bowed his head, and dimension stepped to the other side.

**IZZY**

The inside of the hut was small and sparsely lit. It seemed
to be intended to shelter fishing gear from the elements, but the couple of
small kayaks had been pushed off to the side, making room for a wooden chair to
sit underneath the hanging oil lamp.

Hansel was tied to the chair, seemingly unconscious and
drooling blood, but not really looking that much worse for the wear. Over him,
wearing brass knuckles and snarling, stood a well-armored half-orc with a chunk
bitten out of his face: Kash.

The dealer from the poker game stood next to him, and she
was watching door nervously -- when Goro appeared, she batted at Kash's arm and
stepped back. Kash looked up, and glared at Goro, and raised his fists.

###

Outside, the two other men were alarmed by Goro snuffing
away. They came for Larkin again, one missing, but the other making contact
along her ribs.

The one who'd missed backed off, spooked, yelling, "The
fuck did he go? What's goin' on here?"

**JEN**

"Oh for fuck's sake!" Larkin yelled, staring at
the spot Goro had disappeared. She barely managed to avoid the slash at her
that followed, twisting and catching the second in the side. She snarled and
stumbled, backing away, then snapped her fingers to light the guy on fucking
fire - which flared up, then snuffed out immediately.

Larkin cursed and backed away more, towards the hut.
"My cuz is fucking up your friends in there," she tried,  more hoping than certain that was what was
happening behind the door. "Making 'em rot alive and shit like that."

**LINA**

###

"You motherfucker," Goro growled, and he lunged
forward, hitting Kash in the jaw. Festering wounds erupted across Kash's face
and down his neck. Goro swung his arm back and triggered the springblade,
ramming it toward Kash's gut. He barely managed to knick his side in his blind
rage.

**IZZY**

Kash shuddered at the magic wounds, but they didn't slow him
down. He rammed his fist into Goro's gut, knocking the air out of him and
sending him to his knees. The woman leapt forward immediately, dodging behind Goro
and wrenching his chin up to put her knife against his throat.

"You should've fucking minded your damn business,"
Kash growled.

###

At Larkin's comment about rotting alive, the man who'd
yelled about Goro's disappearance paled a bit. His sword arm faltered and he
backed away a bit. His glance flickered to his buddy -- and then he hissed,
"Nope, nah," and turned to bolt.

"Jerry, you fuckin' coward!" the other guy called
after him, and scowled as he came for Larkin again, slashing her arm.

**JEN**

"Jerry's the fucking smart one!" Larkin caught
Not-Jerry's attack but his blade slipped through and grazed her arm. She bit
back a hiss and stepped in, slamming him with her shoulder, then turning to
slash him across the chest.

**LINA**

###

"Drop," Goro commanded, infusing his voice with
magic. The dealer's hand twitched but she kept hold of the knife. Fucking hell.

"Lark," he wailed pathetically, hoping she could
hear him through the door.

**IZZY**

"No one's fucking bailing you out this time, you little
shit," Kash snarled. His fist slammed into Goro's face. "You fuckers
come into my fucking town, act like you own the place --."

Behind his back, Hansel twitched at Goro's voice, lifting
his head a tiny bit and blinking slightly at the floor. The poker dealer was
too focused on holding Goro and watching Kash to notice.

###

Not-Jerry flinched as Larkin hit him. He tried to come at
her again, but he missed -- and decided that maybe Jerry was onto something. He
backed away, holding his empty hand palm out and pointing the tip of his sword
away. "You know what? You know what? Fuckin' forget it. I'm out. I don't
even fuckin' like Kash that much. You can fuckin' have him."

He backed off a couple more steps, sheathed his sword, and
then and ran after Jerry.

**JEN**

Larkin didn't waste time watching his ass vanish but turned
and rattled the doorknob. Fucking futile, of course. She tried kicking it, and
the wooden doorframe gave a loud crack but the door still held.

"Goro!" She yelled at the door, "Come the
fuck out!"

**LINA**

"Can't," he cried around a fresh mouthful of
blood. He spat a little and let it dribble down his chin, and tried his spell
again. "Bitch, I said drop." Fuckin' nothing. Goro didn't know if it
was him being drunk or the dealer having some kinda fuckin' mind of steel, but
either way, he was fucked until Larkin picked the lock or kicked down the door.

**IZZY**

Kash slammed his fist into Goro's face again, snapping his
head to one side. "You got yourselves into this," he growled.
"Fucking attacking innocent people in the streets. You think you can do
whatever the fuck you want around here 'cause you killed a few bandits and
moved into a castle?" Another punch. "You're a fucking menace. All
you are is fucking bandits, too."

Behind him, Hansel stirred again, lifting his head more and
blinking a few more times. He looked groggy, then saw Goro on the ground,
bleeding, with a knife to his throat. He immediately thrashed against the
ropes, getting nowhere. Behind Goro, the dealer sucked in an alarmed breath,
and Kash looked over his shoulder.

"Hey!" Hansel snarled. "Fucking get over
here, I didn't say I was fuckin' done with you, you piece of shit --."

Kash snorted.

**JEN**

Larkin kicked the door again and this time, the old lock
gave and ripped out of the doorframe. She shoved it open, entering rapier
first, and took in the scene. Fucking Kash had Goro on the floor, which Larkin
wasn't going to take one more fucking second. She cursed at him and swung for
his head.

**LINA**

"Get Hansel!" Goro yelled at her, spitting out
more blood. "Cut the ropes!"

**IZZY**

Kash turned away from Hansel at the door crashing in,
raising his fists. He knocked Goro across the face again, hard enough to send
him sprawling on the floor as the dealer let go of him to twist towards Larkin
instead.

"They always move in fuckin' packs." Kash stepped
over Goro to deal with Larkin next. "Goddamn predators." He looked
past her and scowled, seeing that his backup was gone, but the dealer stayed at
his side.

Hansel, meanwhile, strained against the ropes holding him to
the chair, bending his head down to gnaw at them with his remaining tusk,
growling. The strands frayed enough that when he rolled his shoulders again,
the weakened point snapped entirely, and then the rest of the loops fell away
as he shrugged and stood.

He didn't have his bandolier, or his axes. He was vaguely
aware of the fact that they were propped against the wall, but more aware of
the fact that Goro was bleeding -- he had fuckin' magic now. He could do
something about that. He stumbled a couple steps and dropped down next to Goro,
gathering him into his arms and moving back, whispering, hey, hey, knowing that
healing spell he had wasn't much, but it was something.

The dealer heard him. She looked back and swatted Kash's
arm, and he turned halfway, caught between, Larkin and her rapier in the
doorway, and Hansel glaring up at him as he cradled Goro.

**JEN**

"Hey, fuckers," Larkin called to them, trying to
grab their attention. She was still in the doorway, ready to strike or block,
but moved aside to let Kash and the dealer pass should they be clever enough to
book it. "This is your chance. Get the fuck out, now."

**LINA**

Goro clung blearily to Hansel and prodded his tongue around
in his mouth, trying to make sure he still had all his teeth. A couple felt
loose, but as Hansel held him and hummed to him, he felt his gum knitting
itself back together, teeth getting nice and secure again. Ah, that was fuckin'
great. Hansel was so great. For a second, Goro forgot what was going on, and just
wanted to stay there holding onto him.

Only for a second, though.

Goro gave him a bloody kiss on the cheek and climbed out of
his arms, crawling over to Kash. He grabbed Kash's ankle and bit him on the
leg, right below the back of his knee, chomping as hard as he could. He threw
some magic into it too, opening up a dozen more wounds up and down his leg.

Fucker. Trying to mess with his boyfriend.

**IZZY**

The dealer shot Kash a look, then eyed Larkin, but he wasn't
backing down. He yelled in pain and outrage as Goro bit down on him, lashing
his boot out and connecting with Goro's head.

"Do you not fuckin' know when to stay down?" he
demanded.

"Kash --," the dealer started, putting her free
hand on his arm, but he tore away to face Hansel, and almost regretfully, she
watched his back and took a quick swipe at Larkin with her knife, slicing her
across the belly.

Hansel launched himself at Kash, knocking him down and
pinning him, and gnashed his teeth instinctively at Kash's neck. Piece of shit
was going to lose more than a chunk out of his face, this time -- he did manage
to shove Hansel's face away, though, and fend him off for a moment.

**JEN**

She'd dealt a good fucking hit but to do that, the half-elf
had to overextend and Larkin used the opening in her defense to get the tip of
her own blade in, grazing her across one arm and a shoulder, then backed out of
the doorway, one hand pressed against her stomach.  She limped a bit pretending to be hurt more
than she was (though that cut did burn like a motherfucker), maybe the dealer
would be stupid enough to follow Larkin out. Goro and Hansel could deal with
that other guy.

**LINA**

Goro went down again when Kash kicked him in the head, ears
ringing and stars spinning in his vision. He recovered and pushed himself up just
in time to see the dealer slash Larkin with her knife.

He gave an indistinct cry of outrage and started crawling
over to give her a piece of his mind. Larkin, though--she looked like she was
trying a different tack. The wounded animal trick, trying to lure the lady
outside.

Goro looked back and forth from those two to Hansel pinning
down Kash. Hansel was looking like he wanted to take another bite outta the
guy, and Goro smiled dumbly for a second until he remembered what'd happened
last time. Yeah, he should probably fuckin'... deescalate that shit, or
whatever.

Goro gave Larkin a discreet thumbs up when the dealer wasn't
looking, and dragged himself over to Hansel and Kash. He tried to smack Kash in
the head, but was too drunk and unbalanced on his hands and knees to manage it.

**IZZY**

The dealer looked Larkin over, then cut her eyes briefly at
Kash, pinned on the floor. She 'chased' Larkin out, then threw her knife down
and fucking booked it.

Inside, Hansel snarled and gave up on biting, hauling back
to slam his fist into Kash's face, see how he fuckin' liked it. The first one
caught him off-guard, sending a spray of blood and spit across the floor, but
he managed to deflect the other one. Hansel was still half drunk, and he'd been
knocked in the head -- this was fucking messy and clumsy and as awkward as it
was visceral. Fucker had punched Goro ragged. Hansel wasn't thinking about
tactics, about retrieving his trident to end things fast, or talking shit out
to avoid the conflict, or staying calm and reasonable and getting his injured
boyfriend out of danger, or how hurt Larkin might be.

He was thinking about killing this son of a bitch with his
bare hands.

Thunder rumbled distantly.

Kash heard this, and immediately threw Hansel off of him and
struggled to his feet to try to run.

**JEN**

Larkin let the dealer get away, not giving enough fucks
about her to give chase, and moved back towards the hut. When Kash stumbled
through the door, she sprang aside and let him pass, too. Fuck him, she needed
to see how Goro was doing.

**LINA**

The sound of thunder sobered Goro up right fucking quick.
Oh, no no no. Not this time, motherfucker.

Once Kash was out of the way, Goro crawled up to Hansel,
forcing his way into Hansel's arms. He settled against his chest and aimed the
top of his head so it bumped Hansel's nose--Hansel was always kissing and
smelling his hair, breathing him in. Goro hoped making him do the same now
would knock some kind of sense into him.

"Hey," he said softly. "Hey, it's alright.
I'm okay. You healed me. You saved me. It's alright." Fucking shame Kash
was getting away, after pulling this bullshit, but Goro guessed it was the
sacrifice they'd have to make to keep Hansel from losing his grip. "Ahuv,
you with me? It's all over. Just breathe."

**IZZY**

Hansel rolled back up, intending to shove himself up and
after Kash, teeth grit and bared. Fucker wasn't going to get away this time.
Hansel'd tear his goddamn arms off, see how many people he could fuckin' punch,
then --

Except that Larkin was in the doorway, inadvertently
blocking his path, and he couldn't just fucking shove Larkin out of the way. He
loved Larkin, and she was bleeding and shit -- he ought to heal her, or
something. And then Goro collided with his face and pushed into his arms, and
he only just then realized there was thunder rumbling up above, and Goro was
fucking worried for him, and he needed to settle down.

The thunder wasn't nearby; it was quiet. Hansel just felt
slightly dazed -- still kind of fucking drunk, and concussed, but more ... in
control, somehow. He was all right. Ah. He should say that, out loud, with his
mouth.

He curled his arms around Goro and took a long, deep breath,
blinking in Larkin's general direction. "M'okay." He paused.
"Hey. Hey, fuckin' ... fuckin' heal yourself. Larkin's hurt. Do ... cleric
shit."

**LINA**

Goro stayed pressed up against Hansel, not trusting he
wouldn't lose his shit again and go after Kash if Goro let go of him.

He stuck his arm out and made beckoning fingers. "Lark!
C'mere. You got a hole in you."

**JEN**

"Shit." Larkin stopped staring at Hansel to look
down at her stomach. Blood was already soaking through her shirt and slicking
the fingers pressed against the wound. Her legs were starting to shake, too,
while the pain got more and more intense.

She looked over her shoulder but they were all gone. No one
lurking outside. Safe to stumble over to Goro and hold on to his shoulder while
he patched her up.

**LINA**

Goro kept up the beckoning fingers until Larkin was at his
side. She was trying to look cool and shit, staying on her feet like she wasn't
bleeding all over the place. He grabbed her arm and tugged her down, so the
three of them were sitting practically nose to nose.

He took Larkin's hand in his left and Hansel's in his right,
bowed his head, and prayed. Fixing up all three of them at once. Cleric shit.

**IZZY**

Ah. That was better. He was still drunk, but less concussed.
Wouldn't have to heal Goro his damn self, which was good, because he could
barely fucking do that shit.

And the thunder was kind of just ... gone.

Hansel peeled an arm off Goro to grab Larkin, all but
pulling the both of them into his lap, squeezing each one against a shoulder.
"You fuckin' ... came to rescue me an' shit," he mumbled happily.

**JEN**

"Yeah, uh, ow." Something pressed into the freshly
healed wound and Larkin had to wriggle around until Hansel's grip around her
loosened a bit. She used one hand to pat his back, saying nothing. Of course
they'd fucking come for him. What did he expect?

**LINA**

"'Course we fucking did, ya dumbass," Goro
mumbled, face pressed against Hansel's shoulder. Then he lifted it so he could
grin cheekily at Larkin. "Larkin looooves you."

**JEN**

She swatted at Goro, hindered by Hansel's arm around her.

**IZZY**

Hansel grinned, feeling vaguely smug, and and squeezed them
both again before remembering they were both smallish and breakable and
possibly still slightly hurt, and let up to just pat them instead. "I love
you both."

**LINA**

"I fucking love you both, too. This is great,"
Goro said, holding tight to both of them. "But, uh. I think we should get
the fuck out of this creepy hut before one of those fuckers comes back to
explode it, or some shit. You feel me?"

**JEN**

"Uh-huh," Larkin made and nodded at nothing in
particular. Then she scrambled to her feet, stumbling a bit because Goro was
still holding on, the little fuck.

"Hey," she said looking out the door. "You
wanna go back to the castle, or... I mean, they can't be fucking far yet."

**IZZY**

Hansel was too busy still grinning at the both of them. For
a moment he forgot who the fuck Larkin was even talking about. Ah, right.
Fuckin' ... Kash, and shit. It was easy to forget now that they were all healed
up.

He hefted himself to his feet and ambled over to pick his
bandolier back up, giving his stuff a cursory look-over to be sure that jackass
hadn't fucked anything up. "Nah. Fuckin' ... fuck'em." He looped the
belt over his head to settle it into place. "Maybe they fuckin' learned
their lesson this time." He grinned more toothily and bumped his shoulder
into Goro's as he rejoined them. "See how that little shit fuckin' ran?
Hahah. Fuckin' great."

**LINA**

"Yeah... great." Goro frowned. He grabbed onto
Hansel's arm, since he still felt a little unsteady on his feet. "What if
he like... went to get reinforcements and shit, though. What if he's gonna turn
everyone in town against us. Fuck."

**JEN**

"Yeah, exactly. Can tell if he's dead, though."

**IZZY**

Hansel narrowed his eyes, considering this. He kind of just
wanted to carry them -- both of them, he could do that, he felt fucking great
-- back up to the castle so no one could bother them, and keep drinking. He'd
made so much gold tonight, and what if he did something fuckin' dumb and ended
up losing it? How the fuck was he gonna buy something nice for Goro then.

Fuckin' Kash, though. That fucker. He dropped a hand on
Larkin's shoulder, telling her, "You're so fuckin' smart. You're right. He
can't do shit if we stab him a fuckin' bunch of times. Let's fuckin' do
that."

Then he curled an arm around Goro's waist to lift him up off
his feet, grinned toothily at Larkin, and set off to definitely, totally,
absolutely kill Kash this time.

(He did not.)

[END]

Title: Poker. Summary: Larkin drags Goro out for drinks in
Glimmerton to celebrate the formation of her new gang, the Redbirds. They meet
up with Hansel, and he and Larkin start a barfight over a poker game. Then
drunken Hansel gets kidnapped by Kash, and Larkin and Goro have to go save him,
except that he also saves Goro, a little bit. Something is going on with the
thunder.