Devin Tam

Devin stared at the cards in his hands, face blank, just like dad had taught him. He glanced up at the other three guys, trying to read their expressions.

"I'll take three," the one across from him said. The Dealer, the one on Devin's left, slid the cards across the table.

Cheater... Devin thought suddenly. Only years of practice kept him from frowning. He had no idea where the hell that notion had come from. Wasn't the first time it had happened, and he figured it must just be intuition. He always relied on his gut, his momma having drilled that into him when he was a boy. It had saved his life a couple of times, kept his head above water the rest. And right now it was telling him that these boys were cheating, playing him and possibly the other guy for dupes.

His gut also told him to roll with it. He looke dup at the dealer. "I'll take four," he said on impulse. He picked the new cards up. Hold.

The round progressed; the ante was upped several times, until a small fortune was on the table. The guy on Devin's right folded.

The two cheaters and Devin remained for another round. The ante was upped once more. The guy in front of Devin folded.

The Dealer watched Devin expectantly. Once more, on impulse, "I'll take one." He took the new card. The dealer smiled and placed his hand on the table.

"Four of a kind, King-high," the Dealer said with a grin. He began to reach for the pot.

Devin cleared his throat softly, and the Dealer paused as the young man placed his own cards on the table. Devin looked the man in the eye. "Royal Flush."

The jaw-drop was priceless, and Devin knew he would appreciate it later, however, the other three men were all pulling their guns and Devin only had an instant with which to draw his and duck. He wasnt sure how he did it, but he fell to the ground, rolled and came up, shards of the chair and table flying as bullets pierced them. He squeezed his eyes shut and let off three rounds.

In the sudden silence that followed, Devin cracked first one eye, then the other, and looked around. The three thugs were slumped in their chairs, the money untouched, save where a few piece of he table had disturbed the notes. Quickly, he gather up the entire lot of it, and distributed it over his person. With a final glance over his shoulder, he left the private room quickly, disappearing into the smokey bar and then threading his way to the door.

He stepped out into the night sky and, head down, hands jammed in his pockets, he headed towards the spacedocks, trying not to shake. Whatever had happened back at the bar had him rattled, as it did every time it happened. He had no idea what it was. Momma and pop had mentioned how his cousins could do neat tricks like that, but that him and his siblings would never be able to. He figured it was best to not mention it to anybody, and chalk it up to good reflexes and his momma and pop's schoolin'.

Regardless of what it was, however, it was definitely high time he left this planet.

Tags: backstory
Current Mood: confused