Shadow Game (Deshi/Invite)

"Aaaand soooo~, I attack you directly with my Blue Ocular White Wyvern!" Came a cheerful chirp...followed by muttered swearing, and a man leaving. Maybe 22 was a bit too old to be playing children's card games, or maybe Social Norms were bullshit. If you asked Heather, it was certainly the latter. Still, winning money off of children's card games was certainly nice, even if she had spent way more than the tournament winnings on the card packs...maybe if she had joined an actual one instead of just paying her way into a casual one with a few losers she didn't know. She got up, collecting the prize, and her deck...it had been a fun distraction, for a few hours. And she had to admit, using her illusions to get a few of the actually decent players out early was an added bonus. It was a shame they kept seeing things that weren't really there. Everyone knew there weren't any guns in Children's Card Games.

Heather stepped outside, and almost immediately began smoking. No Smoking signs, driving her crazy...at least she would come off as just a normal card game playing nerd...who happened to be really good at the game.

He had traveled down a level coming to the center and what seemed to be the heart of this place he learned was called Junction. Just like before he carried his usual pack with him as his eyes scanned the busy area from behind his odd mask. He would drift down the streets taking in the scenery before drifting towards what seemed to be an older building within the area. Unlike other places that seemed more updated, this one seemed to have withstood time and change remaining firmly in its spot giving it enough character to stick out and in turn drew the demon to the place.

He would find as he explored the place that it seemed to be a hub of various activities for the young and old alike. He would observe the activities he could from a distance finding himself quite intrigued by a card game going on, the strange crocodile like woman there seeming to beat any that came up against her. As he watched from the crowd that had gathered, he wondered if it was the woman’s skill that got her far or was it something more she did. She did seem to play in a fashion that tripped people up, but how she did it the demon didn’t know. Either way, he would watch the game until it almost ended, the demon drifting outside a few minutes before the other. When he first got outside, he had thought to just drift elsewhere, but without a specific spot to go to he ended up leaning against the wall of the building to think. With his bag at his side, he was still thinking when the lady from before came out and went straight to smoking.

Now usually the drifter left people alone, but for some reason or another, he decided to speak to this one. Keeping his behavior friendly enough he would open. “Ah the champion of the day. Congrats on your wins.” His voice was gentle and kind as he started this conversation a bit odd, deciding to forego the hellos just to see how this one behaved to something out of the box.

Heather looked at the person (?) who had approached her. "Oh, yeah, that! Yeah, they were kinda tough! No match for me though. I'm reaaaaaaaaally good at this game, you know? No clue why, just am!" She immediately put on a grin, holding his cigarette between two of her fingers. "I mean, I'm just pretty good at card games in general, you know? Luck's always on my side. And that alone is enough to make me risk the buy in!" Admittedly, she usually played card games of a much more legally questionable nature. Not that the legality of it changed her enjoyment...much. After all, every crime, no matter how small, would only go to further her goals. And that alone was enough to keep her going. "So who are you? Fan of the game? Or just a bystander who wants a few tips? Either way, super nice to meet you! I'm Heather." She greeted, in a kind tone she had long since mastered.

She had to appear to be normal, after all...or at least as normal as a place like Junction could allow.

When it came to putting on a show for the public, the demon most certainly could perform. He did so every day, the world never really knowing what was going through his mind as he presented himself as open and friendly. Kind of had to be that way to draw customers and alo to put the suspicious at ease. It was a trick he knew well enough and so when he spoke to the strange woman, this practiced skilled flowed out naturally and in turn got a response.

To what he heard, the demon found himself quite amused as he watched the other’s behavior.  Well she certainly seemed sure of herself didn’t she? Hmph how intriguing. It made him wonder what would happen to that confidence if she lost. The thought made him smirk behind his mask, but when he responded there was no malice or ill intent in his voice as he kept his tone friendly and kind. “Oho? A favorite of Lady Luck’s are you? Well that is certainly a good position to be in, even more so where risk are involved,” the demon would begin with a soft chuckle, but then tilting his head he would ask. "Though I wonder if that luck doesn’t also come from skill. How long have you been playing?” While the demon did believe in luck to a degree, he knew without a doubt hard work is what got people the furthest...that or dirty tricks if one wasn’t caught. He wondered where this one fell on that spectrum. That aside, it seemed he had forgotten his manners once more and had forgotten that greetings and names are more proper to begin with. Ah well. Better now than never no?

“My name is Siku. I am a wandering merchant that just happen to wonder by and become intrigued by the skills displayed during the card match is all. It is a pleasure to meet you Ms. Heather.” The demon would give her a polite bow in turn, remaining ever respectful to the other.

"Yep, Lady Luck LOVES me. Always has, and always will!" Heather grinned. "Oh...about threeeeee years?" Heather mused. "Long time, at any rate! It's a fun little game...for a blatant cash grab." Heather admitted. "I mean, I know it's just to sell card packs, but I LOVE opening those cute little things up! Something about tearing the wrapper open and waiting to see what hot garb you get is so addicting!" She chirped. It was oddly satisfying, on some level. "Nice ta' meetcha, Siku!" She gave a smile. "Merchant huh? What'cha sellin'?" Well. Probably nothing of interest to her...but it was still worth asking, she thought. "...impressed by skills, eh? There is SOME technique in it, or something. Gotta like, know how to build a deck, and know exaaaaaaactly how many d's to use when challenging someone to a duel! The magic number is Eight." She advised.

The demon would chuckle finding the other quite amusing despite having just met her. "Well, well. Aren't you confident?" he would muse before giving a light nod at the rest. "Three years, eh? Must be fun if you've kept at it this long and well at least you seemed to get some form of reward and pleasure from what you do, so that is always a good thing." He didn't quite get how opening card packs could be exciting, but hey perhaps there was something special about them to the girl that made the otherwise mundane action a pleasure to do. Though he could understand wanting to collect treasure. That is something even he liked to do. Maybe card collecting was similar. That aside, the merchant would give a friendly nod to the other before tilting his head at her question. "It honestly depends on what you are looking for. I have various goods ranging from jewelry to cook wear to food and other items I have collected over my travels. And what I don't have I can always find and get for my customers. Though I must admit my specialty is in potions that can do various things depending on the ingredients. Much like your cards, I am always excited to mix and brew to see what sort of results I can get." Was potion making dangerous? Oh yes, but that is what he loved about it. He would never sell his customers anything toxic...unless asked for of course, but hey that was their choice was it not? He was just delivering what was being asked for like any good merchant would.

That aside though, the demon would hum at the next bit as a hand went up to cup his chin. "That sounds like a lot of work, but if I do decide to try my hand at cards, I'll keep the notes in mind." Though whether the demon was serious about that or not was a mystery. Either way, he seemed sincere enough with his words.