( her words are reasonable. logical, even. yet he cannot help but sit straighter in his chair, hands folding perfectly in his lap. some of his previous stiffness has since returned, all traces of emotion swept back behind the curtain of formality. )

As the victor, I believe it is my right to choose how to spend the chips in my possession. And I chose to bequeath half the sum won to you.

( that, too, is logical in his eyes. )

As for our brief acquaintanceship, I believe it is also only fair to treat all with equal kindness and courtesy. I would have done the same for anyone else. ( simply and truthfully said. ) But if you feel as though I have overstepped my bounds, I would be happy to find some way to reverse the transaction.

( though he'll have to call over the staff member once more to repeat the steps of transferring chips from his account again. )