Tender Waves - A DreamNotFound Story

Chapter 5: Why Isn't It Clear Yet That This Isn't A Democracy?

"Dude, what the hell?"

"What?"

"That was going to be my win, you can't just place that shitty card there!!"

"Language."

"Are you serious? 'Shitty card'?"

"Language!"

"This is how the game works, Skeppy."

"And it's a bullshit game!"

"Language!!"

It was night. The crew of the SMP had been drifting cautiously through the foggy waters ever since they first arrived in the so-called 'eye' of the Ghost-Sea area. Under Dream's request, the 'Spirit' had maintained a steady position in the middle of the 'eye' as it moved around with the fog, the captain wanting to remain in the clear to keep a clear watch and possibly remain safe. Nothing much had happened in the time between otherwise, the waters remaining blackened and occasional sea-rock structures popping out at their sides.

No other ships were in sight.

No wrecks had been found.

No mermaids were to be seen.

Sapnap, finally bored with waiting around, had helped set up a watch system. He drafted six pirates and placed them strategically around different points on the ship, handing them flashlights and instructing them to only alert everyone else if they saw something that wasn't a dumb rock. The watch group had yet to switch shifts, as it was only just put into place, but the voluntold guards would've rather gotten in on the poker action that Sapnap had also constructed for the remaining crew members instead of being graduated to watch duty early.

As it was, the slightly envious feelings of the guards towards the small crowd watching the game were misplaced.

The card sport had only select participants, and the consequences of their competitiveness combined with their agitation and boredom was veering towards real trouble.

Sapnap, Antfrost, Callahan, and Skeppy were playing the Texas Hold 'Em game that the first mate had taught everyone some months ago. It had become quite the popular thing, but the real interest was only sparked when these four played together, or when Dream was forced to join in. As it was, the captain was not currently playing, standing near the helmsman a good ways away, leaving the four SMP crew members unsupervised by all but Bad.

Sapnap had most of the winnings (a diamond hoe from Callahan, some ruby gems and trinkets from Skeppy, various amounts of money from Antfrost) and was taking an evident lead in the game, while Skeppy was failing miserably and on the verge of flopping. Antfrost wasn't doing too well, either, but was surviving off of the doom of Skeppy. 

"You should fold if you're going to whine about the money you lost out of stubbornness," the cat noted smugly.

"Like you're doing any better," Skeppy sneered.

Eat the rich, Callahan signed to the group, setting down his cards to make the hand gestures. Except me. Let me win.

"Guys, it's no fun if y'all are bitches," Sapnap grumbled.

"Language!" Bad yelped.

"Whaaat?! I'm right!" Sapnap frowned.

"Just let me win one freaking round and I will never complain for the rest of the game," Skeppy bargained.

"Lies," Antfrost shook his head. "Not happening."

"I haven't even placed down the fifth card yet, hold your horses," Sapnap rolled his eyes, double-timing as the dealer and a player.