Cups of chance - RPLOG
From Rusted Promises
Participants
Date
16/1/476
Log
There is a shriek of joy coming from within a crowded section of mange square, a dancing koala joyfully holding onto a handful of crowns. From across a clothed table set before him, is a rather frustrated looking viper. "That's twice in a row, don't push your luck kid." he says before waving off the Koala and gesturing for others to step forward. "Come come play a game of chance, a game of luck, will you come out a victor? Can you best my game?" he shouts excitedly to the crowd. Around him a crowd of smiling people wave crowns at him. "One at a time, one at a time."
Arimia notices the large crowd and walks over to it. Due to her short statue she can't see anything over the mass of bodies, so she starts to slip her way through, working toward the front of the crowd. She keeps her cloak pulled tightly about her, even after reaching the front of the crowd, watching the viper at his table, though she doesn't move to offer a bet of her own.
Ariella sighs as she carries her juggler's gear toward the crowd, the lioness's plan to perform here gone away, instead going to peer over the heads in front of her, trying to see what the commotion is about, maybe scope out the competition a bit.
The viper wastes no time, gesturing to the front of the crowd. "You there, you look like a lucky lady. Step right up, it might just double your money." he says as he taps the table a couple times. "You see this ball?" he asks as he holds a shiny silver ball into the air. "These three cups house the sphere, shrouding your vision, and then, i'll mix the cups up, and you'll have to guess which one it might be under. What do you say little lady?" he says with a fanged smile.
Arimia flattens her ears slightly, staying where she is. "I think I will pass," the 'coon says, "I've been on the streets long enough to spot a bug game when I see one, yeah? I won't clue in the pigeons though. Just gonna watch"
Ariella has gently threaded her way through the crowd and sighs when she sees the show that occupying this corner. "Seriously?" the lioness says, half to herself, twin tails flicking about moodily behind her. "I come here to make some cash and I'm beaten to it by literally the original shell game," she mutters, dissapointment evident.
The viper squints and laughs. "Lady you can make a great deal of cash here, step on up if you have the guts. I assure you my game is top notch." The viper reassures the crowd and saves their interest by saying "Why next bet gets quadruple winnings, how's that for a money maker huh?"
Arimia flicks her tail and glances around the crowd before spotting the lioness. "You should go for it," she says to the would-be juggler. "You can make some decent coin at it! Just ask that koala over there." She gestures roughly in the direction the koala had gone.
Ariella snorts, putting her case down and cracking her knuckles. "Really, Ari?" she scoffs at the pink raccoon. "You may want him to continue the con, but he's in a good spot," the lioness remarks before looking back over to the viper. "We both know that there are only two ways to play the shell game. Either you have a hidden lid in the 'shell' or you're really good with your fingers and can slip the ball into your sleeves," Ariella pauses to look up the sky. "Given the cold, I'd say you're using the former, right?"
The viper shakes his head, stripping his long sleeve jacket off, and gesturing to the cups for an inspection. "You will see that everything is in order, I am no con artist ma'am."
Arimia gives a small shrug of her shoulders, wandering over to the table. She picks the cups up, examining them, then repeats the process with the metal ball, then the cloth covering the table. As she does this she says, "Seems the lioness is too scared of losing coin, an' everyone else was just makin' a show of wantin' to play. So I'll go a round. Only one though, and not for much. Just a diversion."
Ariella simply raises a pierced eyebrow at the viper, reaching into her pocket and picking out a piece of paper and a pen, scribbling something on it and folding it closed, holding it up to the showman so she can see she's done it. "I've written the result for Ari's choice down on this slip of paper, just for the bragging rights," the lioness says, carefully holding the prediction against her chest and nodding towards Arimia. "Please, proceed, I'm an old hand at this type of thing."
The viper looks at the paper and laughs. "Well then, let's see how you fair." he says as he places the silver ball under a cup, and starts to mix the cups about on the table rather slowly. He continues this pace for a while before slowing to a stop, the three cups lined up in front of him. He slaps the table heartily and says "Well now, no tricks, just pick a cup."
Arimia pulls a pouch of crowns from in her cloak, setting it on the table. "Twenty five crowns," she says, before reacing out to lightly tapping the top of the cup she believes the ball to be under. She then clasps her hands behind her back, observing impassively to see if she got it right.
Ariella continues with her arms folded in front of her, the scrap of paper still between her fingers and impatiently tapping her boot against the cobbles, golden eyes fixed on the showman and a grin on her face.
The viper smiles and speaks rather casually as he inspects a rip in the fabric caused by his work saying "So have you heard of the treasures showing up on the market? Quite a few brilliant pieces found by some sea broad, or so they say." before flicking the cup over. Beneath the cup is nothing but fabric. He shakes his head and smiles. "That's okay, if you can guess which of the two remaining cups house the ball you can have your bet back, hows that sound little miss?"
Arimia flattens her ears slightly saying, "Don't call me that." She seems more upset about that then the lack of the ball under the cup she'd guessed. She reaches out and flicks the tops of both the remaining cups, saying, "Keep the crown. An' I haven't heard it, but I'll have to look into it now." After saying that she turns and walks away, blending herself back into the crowd.
Ariella shrugs and sighs, holding up the piece of paper and casually tearing it, "Well, I admit to be being wrong, I thought you'd prefer proving me wrong and keeping the crowd interested than showing them all how unlikely it is to win. Even in a straight shell game, if anyone's ever stupid enough to run one, odds are bad of winning. You can keep the corner, I'll go work the bridge, I suppose," the lioness says, shooting a little bow towards the viper and picking up her case, stepping back into the crowd.
Arimia spends 25 Crown for RP reasons.
The fanged smile vanishes from his face as the crowd leaves, all but a few stragglers, and eh tears off the cloth, briefly revealing a table with holes and a a contraption underneath, before he folds it up and starts to stroll off. "I suppose i'll go see what this sea-monster business is about, lost my crowd for the day." he remarks.
Arimia wanders her way toward the market, not giving any impression of being rushed. Upon reaching the market she simply wanders around, keeping an ear out for mentions of treasures or sea monsters.
Ariella dissapears off towards the bridge, carrying her case over her shoulder and making a note to ask that water clan snake, whatever her name was, when she next sees her. Time to make money first, however.
