[ it's a little like speaking to a particularly gregarious alien, speaking of his similarities to humans while holding them apart, a separate species. but what does nehan know. he's mortal, and they're playing a game without any gambling at all, nothing to read between the cards.

but the new one nets a scoff; in his surprise, he gives away a flicker of amusement. of course there'd be one of these questions eventually, given where they're sitting. an opulent casino with a foundation built off sex. ]

Is this what counts as stakes to you?

[ exchanging petty gossip. he slides the card into the rest of their spent pile with a fingertip. ]

If I recall... [ and he does, his memory woefully good until it isn't, ] I was thinking about whether I was going to meet my next inventory deadlines.

[ it'd been boring. ]

And? What sort of nonsense was going through that love-choked mind of yours.