just a l i t t l e (open)

[hprules]

Toby looked around at the table, he had engaged some of his fellow teammates in a round or two of poker once practice had finished. It was Saturday night, and as a team rule they didn't hold practice on Sunday. He was planning on getting good and drunk and having a good time with his friends. Right now, Toby was bluffing. His hand was really a piece of crap, but they never gambled for money. The one who lost had to buy the next round of drinks for everyone, but it was never losing that much. He never gambled for money anyways.

"Looks like Toby's gonna beat us all!" proclaimed the chaser sitting beside him. Everyone else burst into rowdy laughter, as two others folded quietly. He casually sipped his firewhiskey, now starting to feel the effects of the alcohol getting to him. His mind was still sharp, it would take another few rounds before he got really tipsy, he was just pleasantly buzzed for now. "Ah, shoot, all I've got is a pair of ladies," said one of the beaters, throwing down two queens. "Beats me," said Toby, throwing down his array of cards containing a six of clubs, a two of hearts, and a nine of spades.

"Hey, bar-tender, can we get another round?" Toby said loudly. As the man came back with refills for all their drinks, he paid them and gave a bit of an extra tip, as he knew their group was kind of loud and unruly. Someone tapped him on the shoulder as the chaser sitting beside him began dealing the cards; Toby turned around on his stool to look at...

[pridgeon]

"Here's a couple drinks, on the house." Perri replied with a flirtatious grin. The men cheered and each took their mugs. She handed Toby's mug to him, adding a quick wink towards him. Toby was absolutely handsome, and she had admired him for the longest time. It helped that she was a hardcore Puddlemere United fan. Without warning, the sly Harlow decided to jump and balance herself on the tray in Perri's hands. She laughed and tipped the cat onto a nearby table. "Silly Harlow." she teased, leaning over the scratch her ears.

Perri turned back towards the men, who had returned to their game. She smoothed out her short denim skirt and straightened her tight black top as she untied her apron, embroidered neatly with "Perri." Perri smiled at Toby. "Enjoying the game?" she asked, nodding towards the rowdy wizards.

[hprules]

"Thanks, sweetheart," said Toby to the woman that provided their next round of drinks free of charge. That would certainly help him out a bit, as he usually wound up paying for half the rounds due to the fact he sucked at poker. He looked at his hand, well, this was a pleasant change of pace, he had been dealt a Full House. "Best I can... Perri," Toby responded to the cute bartender, pausing a moment to read the named monogrammed onto her apron. His speech was only slightly slurred from drink, which might be a good thing, as Perri was interesting to him.

[pridgeon]

"Best ain't working for ya, is it darling. You're normally buying the drinks." Perri laughed, pulling up a chair beside Toby. She examined his hand and laughed as if she were hearing a good joke. Hopefully that'd help the others believe he had yet another bad hand. She grinned flirtatiously at his slightly slurred speech. She dealt with drunken men a lot. Only difference now was that she found the guy attractive. She caught a few of the other players eyeing her hungrily and she merely blew them each a kiss. She was such a tease.

[hprules]

"Meh, I don't mind the first three rounds or so," said Toby, grinning. He had lost count of how many rounds this was, maybe it was the fifth... He wasn't certain. Toby usually did butterbeer every other time, so he didn't get too sloshed. He had gotten really drunk once, and needless to say once was more than enough. Everyone looked to him, as it was his turn. "Oh, I'll call and raise ya twenty," Toby said boldly, throwing in his chips. "Either Toby's really drunk or he's got something good!" one of the chasers said loudly, throwing down his drink aggressively.

[pridgeon]

"I'd say drunk boys." Perri replied with a sly grin. Most of them were too drunk to figure she was lying, so they ended up throwing in all of their chips. Perri grinned and winked at Toby. "You're welcome." she mouthed. She tossed her dark hair behind her shoulders, blowing a few teasing kisses towards the boys. Flirting with her favorite team was a dream come true. Around this time she would've turned into a cat and watch them all squirm in shock. Not enough of them were drunk enough however.

[hprules]

Toby grinned at Perri, something about her was different. She was feisty, but not in an overly annoying way, it just made her stand out from the crowd. As this round came to a conclusion, the only other remaining player threw down his hand triumphantly. "A flush! Don't think you can top that, Toby," said he. Toby couldn't help but smile as he calmly laid down his cards. "Full house," said Toby, and then pulled the pile to chips in the pot to his section of the table, everyone else was in disbelief, Toby never won.

[pridgeon]

Perri grinned as the boys looked at her in disbelief, realizing their fault. "You shouldn't trust a pretty face." she replied teasingly. She cocked her head slightly, her piercing eyes gazing upon Toby. He was incredibly handsome, and excruitiatingly talented. Many went for Bradly, the good man. She preferred the wilder men herself, like Toby. A man paid for the rounds and one of the bartenders went to retrieve them. Perri crossed her arms over her chest as she studied the players. Many were beginning to get a bit rowdy, but she didn't mind. In a few more hands the players would trickle out, allowing her to be alone with Toby. She really wanted to make a lasting impression on the man.

[hprules]

"No more for me," said Toby, he had had about three firewhiskeys, and he figured that he was drunk enough. He didn't like throwing up because he drank too much, it made the experience of getting tipsy a little less enjoyable. He reached into the inside pocket of his cloak and pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in the corner of his mouth. Smoking was probably one of his grosser habits, but he didn't do it all the time, just usually when he drank, or when he was really stressed. Toby lit it with his wand and inhaled deeply, the nicotine soothing him almost instantly. Following suit, several of the other players pulled out their pipes as he shuffled the cards for the next hand.

[pridgeon]

Perri surprisingly did not wrinkle her nose in disgust. All though she did not like smoking in the slightest, she would and could make an exception for her favorite Quidditch team. Plus, Toby was worth it. And Perri intended to woo him. She adjusted her low cut black shirt a bit, watching some of the men oogle her breasts. She grinned, adjusting so the cleavage wasn't so apparent.

[hprules]

Toby took a long drag on his cigarette as he examined his hand. His luck from the last round had not continued, now he just had a mis-matched array of cards, no wait, he had two Jacks. It still wasn't good, but at least it was better than just having a high card. Toby called when it was his turn, and then took another puff on his cigarette. He knew smoking was not the best habit in the world to have, but why did it have to feel so good?

[pridgeon]

Perri signalled a worker over. "Firewhiskey." she replied with a smile. The man smiled and was back in an instant. She unscrewed the cap and took a large swig. The firewhiskey was soothing to her sore and tired body. The perfect pick-me-up after a long day. She grinned and took another heary swig. With one glance at Toby's hand, she could be certain he'd be buying the next round.

[hprules]

"Ah, I fold," Toby said, placing his hand face-down on the table. He wasn't the first one to do so, which meant that he would escape paying that round. That was good for him, as he was running out of money. Yes, he had plenty in the bank, playing professional Quidditch brought in a ton of money, Toby just never carried that much on him. Always under a thousand Galleons. As the round came to a conclusion, the chasers left, and one of the beaters joined them too.

[pridgeon]

Now there were Toby, a beater, and the keeper. Perri noticed Bradly's absence early on, but she didn't care. One more round and hopefully it would be her and Toby. A few of the bartenders had left. And elder waitress came up and pecked her on the cheek. "Same time tomorrow Maggie." She replied. "'Course boss." she replied as she walked out the door.

[hprules]

"Ah guys, I'm too hammered to think straight," said Toby. "I'm good for tonight," Truth be told, trying to focus on poker was making his head hurt. He was about ready to do something that didn't involve much thinking. He would probably call a cab and go home, maybe watch some television before turning in. Probably sleep until noon tomorrow and wake up with a killer headache, typical Sunday routine. Or maybe he might stay in the pub and talk with Perri a little more.