<hr/><div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/c/c0/Ginny_Avatar-01.jpg)</div><br/><strong>Name:</strong>Virginia 'Ginny' Mary Lou Whateley<br/><strong>Faction:</strong>Whateley Family<br/><strong>Date:</strong>May 4rd, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Evening<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Casino Morongo<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>The Event, Open<br/><hr/><br/><em><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><strong>"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH--"</strong></span></em><br/><br/>The piercing, shrill, banshee wail was loud enough to cut through the bustle and the chatter of Casino Morongo as all the activity taking place first slowed to a trickle and then came to a complete standstill.  The unearthly sound was enough to raise the hair of the back of everyone's neck as the reactions of the gathered men and women were wide and varied.  Some cowered, looking for the nearest table to hide under.  Others stopped what they were doing and whipped their head in the direction of the sound-those with guns placing their hands on their holsters.  A few, rare souls crusted by the dirt of Gomorra, simply took another shot of whiskey, seemingly unaffected and uncaring.  Then, the murmurs began as the patrons began to speak to one another in hushed tones.<br/><br/><em>'What was that?'  'Did you hear that?'  'What do you think that was?'</em>The chatter took place excitedly, almost perversely, as the crowd began to drift out of the door and towards the direction of the noise.  Like a herd mentality, there was the feeling of safety in numbers as they shuffled outside into the night air, wanting to see what had just happened.  However, Virgina Mary Lou Whateley was not one of them.  Instead, the young Whateley was busy staring down the people at her table, their cards still in hand.<br/><br/>Oh, Ginny had certainly whipped her head in the direction of the sound like all the others; she wasn't cold-blooded enough to ignore the keening death cry.  In fact, it would linger in her thoughts long after tonight as she sat home alone in her overly large house.  But after a moment of deliberation, she decided to turn her attention back to the table.  Whatever was going on surely would be there after this particular hand.  And she had every intention of winning said hand.  Then, she could go and meander out with everyone else.  After all, there was bound to be plenty of juicy gossip to be had in the next hour.<br/><br/><strong>"Yur turn,"</strong>the blonde gambler brusquely directed to one of the regular sharps nicknamed Billy "Three-Hands" because of his ability to put together a three of a kind almost at will.  Tonight she was running with the wolves, a number of the other well-known gamblers in Gomorra that treated the Casino almost like a second home.  Admittedly, it was nothing like that wild night where she had bet everything, boom or bust, close to half a year ago but it was the closest thing she could get to the same thrill.<br/><br/>Ginny was sporting a flush draw, hearts all around, and was confident and in control of this particular hand.  Though she wanted to lure in as many as possible to put their hard-won coin into the pot since this was a powerful hand in five-card draw.  Not too many hands were likely to beat it.  And based on her read of the table, there was a high single pair, a low two pair, and a straight also out at the table as well.  A rare occurrence in five-card and one that would spell a large pot for Ginny Whateley.  Not that she ever went wanting for money, but she did adore winning.<br/><br/>Though Billy was pausing, hesitating in a way Ginny had never seen before.  And after a minute, he seemed to sigh.<strong>"Deal me out,"</strong>he reluctantly laid his hand down as the young Whateley cut back a squawk.  He jerked his thumb in the direction of the exiting crowd.<strong>"I'm going to see what's going on."</strong><br/><br/><strong>"Oy!"</strong>Ginny protested, seeing her potential prey escaping.<strong>"Yuh jist dun quit in the middle of a game!"</strong>Glancing around, she cast her green Whateley eyes looking for support from her fellow gamblers.  But what she saw disappointed her.<br/><br/><strong>"Actually..."</strong>Joseph "Neverbluff", another fairly well known gambler, remarked after a second.<strong>"I'm with Billy on this one.  It just don't seem right to sit here without seeing we can help."</strong>And he tossed his hand down as well as Ginny resisted the urge to frown.  After all, she didn't want to give away the fact that she had the winning hand.<br/><br/>With that, all the gamblers one by one also folded, leaving their cards on the table as they also proceeded out of the Casino to see what was going on.  Leaving Ginny alone at the table as she grumpily stared at her cards in hand before giving an angry huff and throwing them down on the table as well.  In her experience, it was never fun to play cards all by your lonesome.<br/><br/><strong>"Fine.  Ya'll be that uh'way,"</strong>the young Whateley remarked under her breath as she picked up her Stenson and tugged the brim over her head before she went to follow along with the rest of the crowd.  She thought about leaving for her house, but she was curious enough to find out what had happened.  Whatever it was, it had better be something damned impressive to make up for  ruining her fun.  The pace she was somewhere between a lazy mosey and a walk as the young Whateley chose to linger near the back of the crowds, more interested in hearing what others had to say than to the actual event itself.