driftfleet | ✧05

Who: Kaidan Alenko, Gil Brodie, Felix Gaeta (and you?)
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: The lounge of the SS Blameless
When: Today?

[It feels like a promise long in keeping that they finally are doing this, though it comes likely with a mixed feeling that some people they might have shared this with are not here or that they’re leaving behind that sterile tomb of a planet.

Still, it’s a good distraction either way. One that Kaidan has personally missed quite a bit, and it feels right that Gil and Felix were the first ones to join him. To be fair, it had been Gil’s idea to begin with.

As they settle in, Kaidan picks up his communicator.]

Hold on, I have an idea…

[The feed turns on, treating the rest of the fleet to the view of the lounge over Kaidan’s shoulder where Gil is shuffling a deck of cards and Felix is simultaneously watching him and
pouring something into a few glasses that are sitting on the table.]

Hey….so...the three of us were just going to start a game of poker, but we could deal in a couple more people if anyone else wanted to join us.

[Felix looks up at that, and at the camera. More people? It’s not a terrible idea. He adds something to sweeten the pot:]

We’ve even got good snacks.

[...Because of the planet. Anyway. They don’t need to dwell.]

We’re all about the incentives. And even if you can’t join us this time, I was thinking we could make this a semi-regular thing? Just a thought.

Anyway...we’re on the Blameless for this round. Feel free to let yourself in.

[And with that, he switches the feed off]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Gil can't believe his luck. He's managed to put a game together with two beautiful men and poker is always a fun way to spend his time. The more people who show up the better too. He starts by dealing the game.]

Are we betting for real money now or not?

[Kaidan settles into his chair after finishing the broadcast]

I'm good with credits, unless you had other ideas. Some people used chore hours back in boot.

With the two of you? I'd be willing to play for clothes. [He means that as a joke, but he is enjoying the eye candy.]

Maybe not while we're in the middle of the ship though.

[Felix just...raises an eyebrow. Really? (Okay, he's not that surprised. There's this faint tinge of amusement to temper his put-on disbelief, even. But still.)]

That does seem like it would be poor planning.

[No strip poker anywhere, honestly. But definitely not during a game they've just invited the fleet to.]

Credits are fine by me.

[Kaidan chuckles quietly as he leans towards the table, clasping his hands patiently to wait for Gil to deal]

Maybe next time. I'll need to buy more clothes. [Hard to tell if he's kidding. The poker face is sliding into place already. He probably wouldn't mind, though.]

Let's keep it basic. Pretty sure me and Gil here know Skylian Five, but we can do an old fashioned five card draw or Texas Hold'Em. Dealer's choice?

[There's a lot about the different realities they are from that blows Gil's mind sometimes. The fact that so many are still biologically humans, the fact that they have shared games and touchstones, similar languages, cultures that more or less match up, all of that just seems impossible.

But then, a lot of things he's come to accept seem impossible. For instance, the fact that he's sitting at the table with one of Commander Shepard's crew seems impossible - even more so that he's gotten used to Kaidan's presence.

Then there's Felix who sometimes seems pretty impossible just for being who he is.

He doesn't want to embarrass either of them by voicing any of that, though, and instead focuses on dealing.]

Felix and I have played before. Old fashioned five card draw seems to work with most folks here.

[He would definitely have been embarrassed by being called impossible so it's probably good Gil keeps that all inside.]

That works for me.

...Maybe someday I'll get my hands on a deck of Triad cards. Though, I mean, it's basically the same game with different suits.

[Hello boys. Color him curious and that's why he's here. Of course the lure of something fun to do is part of it but the fact that people are involved certainly has his attention.]

Card games?

[He nods his head politely to the trio.]

May I join you?

You've played before? Sounds a little like unfair insider information to me.

[The thin smile says that he's kidding. As the newcomer enters, however, he looks up]

Sure. We have room for a few more...

[He pats the back of the adjacent seat with his hand in invitation]

I'll always want to play handsome guys, Kaidan. If we're going to get along, you need to accept this about me. [Gil teases a bit.

And then Biffy is there, and Gil grins at him.]

Speaking of... The more the merrier. [And he focuses on dealing in Biffy now.] Introductions are in order I bet? Unless you all happen to know each other?

[Felix glances up at Biffy, nodding to him with a small smile.]

We've met, at least.

It is true that I have met, Mr. Gaeta. Of course I know you as well, Mr. Brodie.

[He offers his hand to the third man there, giving him a warm smile even as he moves to take a seat.]

I am Sandalio de Rabiffano. It is a pleasure to meet you.

Kaidan Alenko. Likewise.

[He shakes Biffy's hand firmly]

I haven't seen you around before. Are you knew to the fleet?

I have actually been here for two months now. So, in comparison to others here, I am quite new.

[He laughs gently then nods to the cards.]

What it is we're playing here?

Please call me Gil, Sandalio. I'd make the joke that Mr. Brodie was my dad, but as I never met him I'm not sure he went by it either.

And poker. It's always going to be poker if I'm around. We were talking about using classic rules.

_{[ Fashionably late as always, right? Hey, at least he's carrying a little something fun to drink as a party favor. He waved at everyone and nodded to Sandalio and Kaidan. ]}

Fifteen minutes late, but I brought the good stuff. Better than donuts, right?

_{[ He waved his bottle as he came over to take his own seat. ]}

[Felix looks over briefly at Gil when he mentions his father - that's definitely information he didn't know - but then Kirk comes in.]

Much more appreciated. And you're not late yet.

[He'd almost forgotten how much he'd missed this - the casual conversation and competition between friends. Even if not all of them had started as such, they might be well on their way to that. The game had a way of getting into each other's heads - sometimes by chance but also through strategy.

Kaidan's luck has been holding tonight, though it feels like just barely, with Gil nipping at his heels. Kirk's overall victory seemed to come out of nowhere, but - though he wouldn't admit it out loud - it might be because he had a hard time looking the other man in the eyes for very long.

Maybe he wasn't the only one.

He takes a moment to count his modest pile of chips as Gil deals for another round.]

Why do I feel like we got sharked? Where'd you learn to play poker, Captain?

✧05

Gil OPEN

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Later that night