[ Tseng's got a much better angle in mind, now that Reno's got everyone's attention. As far as he's concerned, it doesn't matter if they're improvising this close to the end game; it's been fifteen years of them reading each other's subtle cues in the face of almost certain death. Reno will be able to divine a character shift, no problem.
He starts following Reno's lead. Looks at him before he plays every card. Stutters when his hand goes up his thigh. Already, their opponents are starting to overlook him, getting the picture he's trying to portray: he's some kind of self-important nobody, probably some fat cat's son all stuffed full of old money and venturing down-Plate for a sense of adventure he can't get where the sun shines. He lets it look like Reno's playing him, looks for much longer at Reno than at anyone else, pours everything he never had into an obvious desperation that practically drips from his gaze. He presses too many kisses to Reno's neck—or just enough, considering each one is slow, stroked, counting out the number of sides on the card he needs. Reno, he's sure, has hands quick enough to filch it in plain sight.
Just in case, he clears his throat and plays a bad card. The Hijo mutters something in another language that Tseng pretends not to understand. He smiles at him instead, blank as a whiteboard as his card is flipped. ]
Shit! This is my engagement ring money you're stealing here. Gonna get married right on the bay in Junon, aren't we, doll?
[ Tseng slaps a stack of gil in the center of the table. It's enough to quiet the tittering Tianshi leaning in to whisper, enough to wipe the glower off of the Hijo's face. Sun Fu exchanges glances with the rest of the table, then nods and clears the space. ]
no subject
He starts following Reno's lead. Looks at him before he plays every card. Stutters when his hand goes up his thigh. Already, their opponents are starting to overlook him, getting the picture he's trying to portray: he's some kind of self-important nobody, probably some fat cat's son all stuffed full of old money and venturing down-Plate for a sense of adventure he can't get where the sun shines. He lets it look like Reno's playing him, looks for much longer at Reno than at anyone else, pours everything he never had into an obvious desperation that practically drips from his gaze. He presses too many kisses to Reno's neck—or just enough, considering each one is slow, stroked, counting out the number of sides on the card he needs. Reno, he's sure, has hands quick enough to filch it in plain sight.
Just in case, he clears his throat and plays a bad card. The Hijo mutters something in another language that Tseng pretends not to understand. He smiles at him instead, blank as a whiteboard as his card is flipped. ]
Shit! This is my engagement ring money you're stealing here. Gonna get married right on the bay in Junon, aren't we, doll?
[ Tseng slaps a stack of gil in the center of the table. It's enough to quiet the tittering Tianshi leaning in to whisper, enough to wipe the glower off of the Hijo's face. Sun Fu exchanges glances with the rest of the table, then nods and clears the space. ]
That's right.
[ Tseng loops an arm around Reno's shoulder. ]
Help me out here, babe. I'm feeling lucky.