(no subject)
It's not desperation so much as sheer boredom that has Le Chiffre agreeing to play poker with Bond. Not just poker, either -- but poker for no money. There is still a part of Le Chiffre -- an admittedly huge part -- that is not taking the lack of currency well, but that's neither here nor there. He'll find a way around it soon enough.
Besides, all Le Chiffre can think about when it comes to money and poker is killing Bond in a myriad of ways, and he still does not have enough leverage (as in he is no longer filthy rich and cannot buy people off) within the community to get away with something of the sort. Bragging rights, as the Americans would say, are all he has to play for, and should be good enough for now.
They're situated in the rec room -- not exactly the Royale, but it'll do -- and while Le Chiffre had been wary of Bond's lady friend at first, he finds Sarah Jane pleasant enough for the role of dealer. Tonight might not actually go quite that badly.
James was also looking forward to having something to do particularly since there was little Le Chiffre could do that would impact him negatively. Winning a game was hardly the same as being poisoned. Regardless, they weren't going to be able to play a game by themselves even with Sarah Jane dealing. Not a particularly engaging game since Texas hold 'em allowed for a great many more players than two. Twenty three to be precise if those involved was amiable to playing without burn cards.
Despite that being the case, Bond could scarcely think of anyone else with the possible exception of Dexter or Lara. He felt that perhaps it would be better to find strangers so, if he did win, he could gloat a bit more than he would be able to if he beat someone he considered to be a friend. Regardless of the stakes or the abundant lack of, 007 would be more than willing to be insufferably smug.
For the time being, he was gathering up the chips that had been placed in front of him, slowly dropping them into a pile, one-by-one, enjoying the clinking sound they made. They were very nicely made. Mother of pearl. They were worthless but at least they spoke of a certain class or elegance. He was determined to enjoy the poker game but he did think it might have been easier to do so if money was on the line and if he had a vodka martini sans poison.
Sarah Jane had seen a great many poker games before in her life. Alien planets always seemed to have their own version of poker, that they always liked to play whilst in the middle of a crisis. She'd watched people in the future, the past, and the far, far away play the game, but right now, she was more curious than anything to watch this game between James and the man she'd met briefly.
She dealt the cards, fingers aching mildly with something she refused to acknowledge as arthritis, but she was able to cut them and with a little practice, she was able to get better at it and was reminded of old times in the TARDIS, while the Doctor had played with his yo-yo, she'd made a game of her cards, dealing them and seeing if she could improve.
"Well, boys," she remarked, thoughtfully, peering to the two of them, her own poker face on, even if she wasn't playing. "What are the stakes?"
[See this post for details! If you tag in, the order will be your pup-Le Chiffre-Bond-SJ.]
Besides, all Le Chiffre can think about when it comes to money and poker is killing Bond in a myriad of ways, and he still does not have enough leverage (as in he is no longer filthy rich and cannot buy people off) within the community to get away with something of the sort. Bragging rights, as the Americans would say, are all he has to play for, and should be good enough for now.
They're situated in the rec room -- not exactly the Royale, but it'll do -- and while Le Chiffre had been wary of Bond's lady friend at first, he finds Sarah Jane pleasant enough for the role of dealer. Tonight might not actually go quite that badly.
James was also looking forward to having something to do particularly since there was little Le Chiffre could do that would impact him negatively. Winning a game was hardly the same as being poisoned. Regardless, they weren't going to be able to play a game by themselves even with Sarah Jane dealing. Not a particularly engaging game since Texas hold 'em allowed for a great many more players than two. Twenty three to be precise if those involved was amiable to playing without burn cards.
Despite that being the case, Bond could scarcely think of anyone else with the possible exception of Dexter or Lara. He felt that perhaps it would be better to find strangers so, if he did win, he could gloat a bit more than he would be able to if he beat someone he considered to be a friend. Regardless of the stakes or the abundant lack of, 007 would be more than willing to be insufferably smug.
For the time being, he was gathering up the chips that had been placed in front of him, slowly dropping them into a pile, one-by-one, enjoying the clinking sound they made. They were very nicely made. Mother of pearl. They were worthless but at least they spoke of a certain class or elegance. He was determined to enjoy the poker game but he did think it might have been easier to do so if money was on the line and if he had a vodka martini sans poison.
Sarah Jane had seen a great many poker games before in her life. Alien planets always seemed to have their own version of poker, that they always liked to play whilst in the middle of a crisis. She'd watched people in the future, the past, and the far, far away play the game, but right now, she was more curious than anything to watch this game between James and the man she'd met briefly.
She dealt the cards, fingers aching mildly with something she refused to acknowledge as arthritis, but she was able to cut them and with a little practice, she was able to get better at it and was reminded of old times in the TARDIS, while the Doctor had played with his yo-yo, she'd made a game of her cards, dealing them and seeing if she could improve.
"Well, boys," she remarked, thoughtfully, peering to the two of them, her own poker face on, even if she wasn't playing. "What are the stakes?"
[See this post for details! If you tag in, the order will be your pup-Le Chiffre-Bond-SJ.]