Re: Episode 1.04: See your bet and Raise
Poker continued into the night. One by one the guests fell to the unlucky side of Lady Luck. Dren went all in on a hand he knew that he shouldn’t and was knocked out. Thirty five minutes later, Johnny did the same thing. The kitchen had closed down for the night and the “caterers” were cleaning up. It was time for the members of Cornerstone to make their exit. Dren waited for Johnny since they had arrived together. They made their exit as the last of the kitchen cleanup was being completed. Alex made her way out of the security office. Pieran departed soon after; knives in hand, since it would have been in the nature of a prima donna chef to leave the mess to the staff to clean. On a rolling cart, the covered serving tray/mirror was stacked up with some general bowls, utensils and spices. Raven headed to the elevator. Once she was in, Iain left the lower security room. He flipped on the cameras to allow them to record nothing unusual. With luck, it would be a while before anyone noted the skip in time.
Raven exited the elevator on the third deck and wheeled the cart to the casino boat’s main kitchen next to the Fortunes Wheel Restaurant. She unloaded the cart of the ship’s supplies, tucked the covered tray under her arm and headed for her exit. As Raven crossed the restaurant floor, she could see Old Bullion’s dance floor winding up. The band was off their break and they fired up the crowd with a smoke and strobe light display with their first tune. Raven changed her direction and headed for the port side stairway near the stern of the boat and the kitchen. On the main deck, Raven weaved her way through Wild Bills and out onto the gaming floor. Only half a ship length to go and she would be clear. Raven tried to hurry through the game room, looking down as she walked. Someone grabbed her arm and spun her around.
Iain slipped into the back of the van with the rest of the team. “Raven should be right behind me,” he said. “I saw her getting into the elevator on the monitors.”
The group sat in the van for a few minutes, but the archaeologist did not appear. “Sometin’s wrong,” Dren said, as he jumped out of the vehicle. “Wait 'ere!” Dren sprinted between the parked cars.
Dren rushed into the gaming boat, and stepped into a chaotic scene. A crowd had gathered around the slot machines. Apparently someone had just hit the jackpot. He quickly scanned the area and spotted Raven, wandering aimlessly, a few feet away. She had a faraway look in her eyes, like she was awake, but no one was home. The tray was still clutched in her hands in a white-knuckle grip. Dren moved to her, and placed one of his hands on her face, shielding her eyes. “Come back t’ me, Pidge,” he said in a soft voice.
Raven blinked a few times before she finally seemed able to focus and look at him.
“Ya ok?” Dren asked.
“Dizzy,” was all she said.
Dren gently took the mirror from her hands and slipped it under his arm. He wrapped the other arm around Raven so she could lean on him. “Let's get ya outta 'ere.” He walked Raven across the parking lot and helped her into the van. Once inside the vehicle, Dren explained to the others, “Dinner didn't agree wit' her. Bad pork. She'll be fine after she gets some rest.” Raven closed her eyes and leaned on Dren as Mike drove everyone back to the mansion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:50, Wed 16 Sept 2009.