The night had finally come. A night a lot of people seemed to look forward to and enjoy, May's randomly annual poker night. She'd rented a massive penthouse suite in a hotel room and let the word be spread. She never invited anyone in particular. There were no rules on who could and couldn't come. She'd had her share of villains show up and occasionally things happened but at this point not as much. She only had a few rules for her party. Bring enough money, bring your own booze, anyone who hears about the party can come, and don't start any trouble. She'd kicked a few heroes out before for trying to start something with a villain who showed up. He'd been good and played nicely, hardly even cheated. She knew people would cheat, it happened when you put this many people in a room with a wide variety of skills. It was simply something she'd learned to deal with. In the middle of the room the couches had been moved against the walls and a large poker table set up. She had three decks of cards, still wrapped, in the middle of the table. Tubs of ice were scattered around with everything from beer to bottled water in them. A bar was also set up with some booze on it that she'd provided. Basically whiskey, tequilla and Rumpleminze in ice with a large bottle of Heat pills for those with a healing factor who wish to get drunk.

May strolled out of the main bedroom wearing a short tight leather skirt, combat boots with some fishnets and an old tour shirt she'd stolen from Danny. Was it almost stereo-typical punk/groupie girl look? Yes, yes it was. But she didn't care, it was relaxing and she looked hot. Yes she relied on her looks to help distract the other players and often it worked. Especially with some perfectly placed cuts in the shirt. She grabbed a bottle of beer from the tub and used her claw to pop the top before taking a swig. The people should begin showing up pretty soon. She went over to the patio and stepped onto the balcony. Luckily it was a beautiful night out. She leaned on the railing looking down at the streets and seeing if her senses could pick out anyone she knew coming it. It was always tricky as she knew that she didn't know who could be coming. It could be a bunch of friends, or it could be no one.

May's social nights seemed to be something of a thing in the superhero community. This was going to be the second actual party Edward had been to since arriving in New York, and the second one May had hosted. Edward didn't mind crowds, or people he didn't know, or poker, as a matter of fact. What was bothering him was what to wear. In England, parties had been simple. You wore jeans and a nice shirt, watched everyone else get pissed, and enjoyed the company. But here, he didn't know what to expect, especially clothes-wise. It had been easy enough at the Halloween party, where everyone had been in fancy dress, and he'd been able to rent a tuxedo on the cheap. This, however, was whole new territory, and Edward had long since stopped relying on May to figure out what sort of attire a part called for.

In the end, he settled for a fairly basic ensemble. Black jeans with a belt and a black button-up shirt with two buttons left undone, and somewhat nice black shoes on. He checked in the mirror to check that his hair was still good, and decided he was good to go. With the scent trail left by May it didn't exactly take him long to arrive at the venue, even if it was in an unfamiliar part of town. He was probably actually early, which, given his attitude towards punctuality at lessons and training sessions, would probably get him a comment from May.

He stepped in through the door without knocking, and walked to the balcony where May was, rapping on the wall to let her know he was there.
"I wonder what look you're going for tonight," He said to her somewhat snarkily. Those cuts, for once, didn't look like wear and tear she got from teaching and hitting people. They looked like she'd very specifically placed them. Well, it wasn't like he wasn't used to being dressed more smartly than her, even if she managed to make leather work. He stepped out onto the balcony himself, and leant against the railing. He knew that, if he wanted to be sarcastic towards May, he should probably get it out of his system before anyone else arrived. She was far more tolerant of it when they were alone. 

"So we just in for a standard game of Hold 'Em?" He asked her. He knew how to play a couple of types of poker, but that was the one he'd ever really played much of, back in England. He also produced several bottles of cider from various pockets, and laid them on a table. He wouldn't stand much chance of getting drunk anyway, and it felt less cheap to bring cider than beer. "Got the bring your own notice." Which was far easier when you owned a fake ID. Thanks to the same person who'd gotten him the ID, he actually had some money to burn tonight, which, from the sound of it, he'd definitely end up doing.

Zero rarely left Her Lady of Perpetual Sin. It was only a case where he'd make a lot of money or absolutely had to. This was a case of making a lot of money, and knowing how drunk people got meant he'd probably get laid. He was a simple man, he just wanted money and companionship. Money usually led to companionship, the means were often varied but the link was there and quite clear. He'd gotten dressed in a simple black suit coat and pants combination with a light bluer dress shirt partially unbuttoned. Basically his usual attire. Of course he had his underarm holster with his revolver and a book with him. He usually made a few new clients from these parties. Not to mention one of his oldest ones, May, was due for an upgrade.

He strolled into the penthouse maybe a few minutes behind Edward. He didn't know the kid but suspected some sort of family tie given his look and their familiarity. He was too young for one of her usual conquests, Sebastian not with standing.

"Oh she relies on her beauty and curves to distract most of the players. I nearly had her last time and she shifted and I saw nipple. Not sure what happened after that. I'd be excited that I saw her nipple but before that I'd already seen a lot more."

He said with a wink to May before coming onto the balcony and kissing her on the cheek in a way that was more of a friendly greeting than romantic. He then turned his attention to Ed and smiled extending his hand to shake.

"Zero Kickassery Weaselson III. LOng time friend of May and her family."

He ignored the snort from May and kept his attention on Ed.

Chaz was trying to expand his social circle. That was why he'd decided to come to this mysterious poker party. He'd heard a few people talking about it at the bar. Apparently they'd come to it a time or two in the past and were talking about it. It did sound fun and he was usually pretty good at poker. Not as good as when he could read minds, but still he wasn't too bad. Even though he was more lucky than skilled, it still paid off.

Chaz was about to knock on the door but noticed it was open. He slowly poked his head in and looked around. Apparently he was early, he hated being early. He preferred fashionably late, but no one was sure what time it started. It seemed to be both organized and casual, annoying, but doable. He was wearing a simple pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He hadn't heard about a dress code but simply had to roll with it. He had a pair of sunglasses with him, douchey but it was more to hide any potential red eye he got from a bad hand. He should be good though, he'd eaten recently, the brain of a gambler. Hopefully he was good but Chaz had his theories. Either way he had knowledge of poker and that's what counted.

"Hey, this is the night right?"

He asked looking around. He set a bottle of ghost pepper infused vodka he'd made on the bar with all the other bottles. He could still get drunk, it just took awhile. But the rule of heat still stood, meaning he'd need it to actually taste anything. He didn't really recognize anyone, until he heard the one man introduce himself as Zero. A few of his regulars frequented his bar as well. He always figured he'd be taller and more muscley but kept that opinion to himself. Of course the fact that two people here knew someone from his old life could indeed prove interesting.

I keep kicking at the curb with my worn out shoes

Celeste was rather bored. She was in New York once again and, for once, she was trying to not bother Edward. He had his own life, after all. She didn't need to go bothering every single time she was around. People might start getting the wrong idea if she did, after all. She could only imagine what the people at his school already thought about his disappearing with the random faux brunette from time to time as it was. She had been in the city for a job, anyway. Plain and simple. Some very low time necromancer had been trying to use a run down squat house to slowly build an army, as if people didn't notice. She'd just been happy that she had gotten to it before the dumbasses she worked for with the Commandos got their noses into it. It meant more money for her, and more fun as well. She'd booked a round trip flight to take care of the issue, rather than using the genie or some teleportation charm but the down side was she had a few days left to just wait around to go home. On second thought, she was almost regretting leaving the Djinn at home. Oh well.

She'd been out getting herself some coffee the morning before when she had heard of the news initially. A poker night, it was supposed to be something big, something that happened every year. She didn't care much for the specifics, but she made sure to make a mental note of the address and spent the next day or so gathering what information on it she could before heading out. She wasn't dressed like she normally was. No feminine version of her grandfather's old costume or Lara Croft looking clothes. No, rather, she had gotten herself into a nice pair of dark blue jeans and a red v-neck. Plain and simple. Of course, she couldn't quite go anywhere without the Flak Jacket she'd gotten as a hand-me-down from her mother and a few of her lower level weapons. Mainly just bottles of holy water and silver-tipped stakes. Call it precautionary. She simply felt naked without some sort of weapon on her. And at least it wasn't her guns. Of course, she had her choker on, though that never really came off. She made sure to grab a bottle of some of the strongest liquor she could get her hands on before heading out, figuring it would, at the very least, be polite.

It hadn't taken quite as long to get to the hotel from her motel, walking there, but she was still a little late it seemed, considering she could smell and hear other people in the room before she even saw them. It was time to try and play nice, something she didn't usually do too well. One of the scents, she noted, seemed rather similar to the ones she'd had wafting around her just a few days ago. But that was impossible. It wasn't as strong. Maybe it was just old. Pushing that out of her head, she walked into the penthouse, initially grimacing until she saw a very familiar face. Or, rather, a very familiar silhouette. Just the smallest of smiles started to pull at the corners of her lips as she moved to bring the bottle over to a table. Once it was out of her hands, she crept up behind Ed as quietly as possibly, placing a hand on the top of his head to try and playfully, albeit somewhat awkwardly, ruffle up his hair. "Well isn't this a pleasant surprise. The one time I try to not be a bother to you and you just show up. If I didn't know any better, love, I'd think you planned on this." Her eyes then turned to the other two by Ed, offering just a slight smile and a short wave of her other hand. "Hope you lot don't mind my crashing. Thought this could be an interestin' change of pace for me."

xxx	@spidergirl Edward Church @zero @shaw
initially, i was gonna throw luna here but leste muse is high and she needs something to do. this could prove interesting, to say the least.

I keep running into stranger's that say I know you

✿

As the newcomer stepped up, Edward at first looked at him with a fairly unexpectant raised eyebrow. He wasn't expecting too high a calibre of person, and lord knew he wasn't the highest calibre himself, but still, this guy didn't look like much. The expression got somewhat more disparaging the longer the guy went on, and as he concluded his speech, Edward turned to May with a faintly hopeless expression on his face.
"Do you have any friends you haven't slept with?" He asked, "Like, any at all?" He shook the hand somewhat reluctantly, his eyebrow basically disappearing into his hairline at the ridiculous sounding name. Where did May find these people? "I'll just be glad I'm immune to her....curves. Perks of being related." A pause and then. "May talks about most of her friends. Never heard of you before." The guy had motivated him to give just a little dig.

Edward didn't pay much attention to the next guy who wandered in next, other than a polite nod. He was just trying to think how many more outburst from 'Zero Kickassery Weaselson' he could handle before he ended up punching one of May's longtime family friends in the throat. Well, she'd probably done it before already. "Right," He said in reply to the newcomer's question.

Edward assumed he'd be able to hear anyone approaching, but he was taken by surprise as a hand made its way to his hair and began to ruffle, messing it up. He whirled, not sure who he was expecting to see, but before he could get properly angry, a smile broke out across his face. Fancy seeing her here.
"Well that's fifteen minutes of my life wasted trying to get that looking good," He said, moving one hand to his head to attempt as much damage control as he could without looking. "Please, my plans never turn out this well." Well, tonight was gonna end up being a whole lot more fun. And this time he might spend time with Celeste that wouldn't feature broken bones, stabbing, shards of glass embedded in him, or ice cold baths from a zombie caretaker. He took a second to look her up and down, and faked shock with the sarcasm evident in his tone. "You're wearing something not from a costume shop! I'm not sure how to deal with this." But the smile that refused to budge deadened the sarcasm.

Give up, we needed the c o m p a n y

Let's drink to your health

Tessa wasn’t really one to gamble away her hard earned money, but she’d also managed to convince herself that she needed a night off. Beat some boys at poker, get drunk, beat them a few more times, take one...Well maybe not anymore. At the same time she wasn’t ready to invite Dean, or whatever, up for a ‘nightcap’, so maybe, she still would take some guy home with her.

Tessa had actually heard about this little happening while sitting in Zero’s bar. She wasn’t one who went out much, unless it was to a bar or for a job. But why not. Now, what to wear. It wasn’t a serious question. It was advertised as a conflict free night, but Tessa always liked to be ready for anything, so that meant clothing that would let her move freely. And Tessa wasn’t the type of girl to go around in skirts or dresses anyway.

Black. Black always worked. It worked for everything. She left her apartment, telling Mavrick to keep watch as she went out. He laid down right by the door, head down, ears and eyes alert.

---

She could tell by the noise coming from the place, that she was not the first, or even the second to arrive, by far. She walked in, simply looking around, taking in everything and everyone in. She didn’t really know anyone, until she spotted Zero. She started to make her way towards him. ”Zero,” she called out to him with a nod. She then turned to the bar to make herself a drink.

TAGGED: name(s)	WORDS: xxx	OUTFIT: link
NOTES: Um....yeah so that's all I got

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