<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 3rd, 1876<br/><strong>Time of Day:</strong>Morning<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Casino Morongo<br/><strong>Tagged:</strong>Matthew Cuthbert, Christian "Spooky" Specter, Deacon Sloane, Open<br/><hr/><br/>The action was quick and fast around the table, just the way that Ginny liked it.  A hand won, followed by a hand lost.  The young Whateley abandoned herself to the rhythm of the game, to the sweet sound of the cards brushing up against one another in that silky whisper as they were shuffled and the clink of gold hitting the pile in the center as bets were taken and the occasional bluff was made.  Each person was a study in contrast.  Spooky was almost like a granite slab, barely moving outside of placing bets.  In fact, with his hat tipped so low as to hide his face, one might have mistaken him for being asleep.  Or dead, if their sense of humor went in that morbid direction.  However, there had also been<em> something </em>in his gaze earlier when he had refused the free blow that had been offered by Mr. Sloane was an awkward peace offering between the two.  Was he worried about offending her sensibilities?  His words did get him a slight smile though Ginny wasn't willing to let the words touch her heart even if they were heartfelt about Spooky having all the company he needed.  A true gentleman then and a rarity in this day and age.  Ginny herself was quite the cynical nineteen, having seen and learned one or two hard lessons when she was younger.  Enough so that she didn't really believe in a prince charming that would be riding a white stallion to come and sweep her off her feet before riding off in the sunset.<br/><br/>Still, it seemed as if he knew what he was doing and so Ginny was quite confident that she wouldn't have to worry about a scene in the Casino from him losing too much money.  No doubt Mr. Sloane would appreciate that though since he was such an ornery cuss, he'd show his appreciation by frowning and spitting in her general direction.<br/><br/>Much like he had just done.  Pretending to take her offer of a cigar just so he could get close.  And while his words were for her ears alone, Ginny had obliged him by genuinely blushing at his ribald words, her cheeks taking on a rosy color as she had paused to fan herself.   She<em>would</em>need to go to confessional later after such salacious words.  And demurely, she deferred her gaze from Sloane's, those green Whateley eyes sliding away, acknowledging that he had seen through her feminine wiles.  Truly a dangerous man - and that was something that stirred her blood in a way that she'd hesitate to admit aloud.  Such a shame he wasn't a decade or two younger...<br/><br/>Then, there was Matthew Cuthbert, the card sharp.  And he was good.  Good as any at that table she'd played that black night.  Their's was a war of information.  Misleading and misdirecting.  At first, Ginny had fooled him on one hand, letting him think she had a pair of nines when she really had a pair of kings.  But then, in a later hand, he had gotten her.  Trip Aces to beat out her two pair.  Using the same, subtle cues that she had used to fool him.  Still, he seemed to be playing extremely conservative with small antes.  It was surprisingly cautious for such a flamboyant person and lead Ginny to believe he was more capable than he was even showing now.  No, this was merely the preliminary round.  Much like a hunter would lay bait around his trap for his prey.  Mr. Cuthbert would be coming back, no doubt.  Today was simple a friendly greeting as they tried to understand one another and how they played. Though Ginny had no intention of being hunted.  If anything, she planned on being the hunter the next time they sat across the table from one another.<br/><br/><strong>"Yur good,"</strong>Ginny remarked even as she lost another hand to Matthew, his straight beating out her low pair as he scooped up another small pot.  Honestly, admiring his skill.  Then, her voice turned subtle once more.<strong>"Whatevah's uh gurl like muh supposed tah do?"</strong>She batted her lashes at Spooky in a flirtatious manner.<strong>"Yu'll save muh, right Suh?"</strong>And when she received no reaction, as he remained focused on the game, a small pouting frown was given even as she poured a shot of whiskey before sipping it.<br/><br/>~*~*~<br/><br/>And so the next few hours past as Ginny felt her luck getting hotter and hotter.  Almost too hot as she'd won the past five hands in a row as her stack of earnings grew, looking even more ridiculous than before.  Miners and other players would come and go, but overall Matthew Cuthbert and Spooky stayed, seemingly determined to stick it out with her.<br/><br/>If this were somewhere else, she'd play it smart and lose the next one deliberately.  No sense in stirring up any ill will among the customers.  But here in the Casino, she knew that she was safe.  Sloane and her rent she paid to him for running a table guaranteed it.  And so, she only arched an eyebrow coolly at the miner who exploded as his temper ran hot when she showed him a higher two pair, Kings over Queens.  She hadn't bothered to remember his name though he certainly was not that pleasant to look at.  Certainly not a regular and definitely not much of a gambler since he hadn't been prepared to lose what he had brought to the table.  Though her eyes did narrow imperceptibly at his words and his threat.  Nothing she hadn't heard, but those words invoked some unpleasant memories.  Her mouth hardened slightly though she didn't otherwise give that much heed to his words, even as she waited for Sloane's men to act.<br/><br/>But Spooky beat them all to the punch.  Apparently, the gunman was fast on the draw in more ways than one.  And with simple threat and those terrible, terrible eyes coming to life, the miner was sitting his yonder arse back down so fast that the chair he was in busted as the whole Casino laughed.  Ginny joined in, her higher voice pealing above the coarse laughter even as Spooky bought the man a drink to show that there was no ill will between the two of them .<br/><br/>As the infamous gunman deferred to her, Ginny favored him with another blood-stirring smile.<strong>"Thank yuh kindly, good Suh.  A damsel like muh always appreciates a helpin' hand."</strong>She dealt him his cards even as she sought a bit more information about him.<strong>"So ah coudint help but overhear yuh and Mistah Sloane talkin'.  And ah'll keep muh ears open fer a man in black for yuh." </strong><br/><br/>And she wasn't bluffing; if it was one thing the young Whateley was good for, it was the latest rumors and gossip around Gomorra.  An interested look was given at the mysterious, almost mythical gunman.<strong>"Yuh ever interested in showing muh a trick or two?  Ah'd appreciate the help mightily."</strong>With her free left hand, she made a pistol with her finger and mock shot with it, giving the sense that she really didn't know what she was doing.  "Ah've got a house in-town.  And ah make a mighty mean sweet tea."  A hint of pride was in her voice there along with the not-so subtle invitation to her personal dwelling.  The pride was understandable.  After all, that tea was Granny's specialty recipe and the pride of the Whateleys back when they lived in Georgia.<br/><br/><strong>"See?"</strong>she remarked pointedly to Matthew, almost as if she wanted to set them against one another.  After all, her ego was large enough that she'd enjoy the sight of two men squabbling over her favor.<strong>"This is 'ow uh man acts around a woman.  Not by takin' her winnings."</strong>She gave a small pout in his direction as he still went ahead and won the next hand to stop her win streak.<strong>"See wot ah mean?  Uh gentleman would've folded and let muh win!"</strong>Her tone was exaggerated as those green Whateley eyes twinkled, letting the gambler know that she wasn't serious at all.  It was simply part of her persona, much like the clothing she wore.<br/><br/>And not wanting to be undone for generosity, she plucked up a golden eagle and bought a round o'beer for everyone at the table.  The good stuff, the best the Casino had to offer.  After all, they were all here for a good time.