Heart of Glass

06

Barrett lost the game, that was almost a given within the first three moves. It was bad but also entertaining to watch her friend get so fixated and aggravated over this match. Nelly did feel bad for finding this all really amusing, but it was, she sympathised entirely, Vincent was unreadable at the best of times but when playing he became even more so. Although, admittedly, Nelly did think he was daring to smirk, or even smile over his victory; she only knew this with how his eyes narrowed ever so slightly in that way that usually indicated someone was showing some form of happiness, or amusement.

Nelly wouldn't blame Vincent for finding Barrett's dramatic decline in defeat amusing. For a big guy, he made a lot of fuss, dramatic fuss at that before conceding and narrowing his brown eyes towards the red clad man. Vincent just tilted his head, red eyes unblinking as Barrett just seemed to look as huffy as his behaviour, "You win, this time." Was all he said while collecting his cards and pocketing them.

"You want a rematch?" Nelly sounded disbelieving. She would rather not, not unless she really had to. She had learned her lesson three times. That was certainly enough for it to register in her brain that she wasn't destined to beat Vincent at Queen's Blood.

Barrett just looked at her bluntly while turning in his chair, he was grumbling something before standing and looking down at the pair. Vincent still sat there holding his cards, as if ignoring the fact, the game was over, while Nelly just smiled up at Barrett. The gun-armed man waved his hand at them and stomped away. "I'm gettin' a drink."

Nelly blinked her eyes slowly and they eventually flicked up at Vincent, with a sigh, she turned in her seat and crossed her arms loosely. Nodding every second or so, she hummed thoughtfully and had Vincent turning his head to watch her. He seemed confused over what she was doing but could see she was thinking over something. "I am not sure defeat tastes any better with alcohol."

Vincent inclined his head a little and looked over the board, he inhaled slowly and took to reclaiming his cards too. No point leaving them on the board if Barrett wasn't coming back, and Nelly seemed inclined to not want another match. "It might soften the blow."

Nelly scoffed and shot him a look, "That shouldn't be funny." Vincent paused in pocketing his cards and looked at her questionably. Nelly rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, if Vincent was thinking right, he'd actually believe this was one of few times her usually cheery disposition slipped and she looked tired, maybe even a little exhausted. "We've had a lot of hardship, all of us, and a lot of defeats and setbacks that I think getting a little merry would be the least we could do to accept whatever has been dealt out to us. But it's also a slippery slope." Nelly's eyes went distant then, and Vincent found himself frowning, she was getting lost in some thought or memory there, he was sure he had a similar expression in the manor basement one time or another. Shaking her head, Vincent watched as that expression went and her usual happy smile was back on her face, he felt something bitter radiate inside him, it looked a little emptier than usual, was she trying to humour him that she was fine? "What you said is funny in a cynical and ironic way, that's all I'm saying." She decided and he could tell from the sure nod and her tone that was the end of that conversation, or the topic at least.

Hearing her name, Nelly looked over to the door and smiled, Yuffie was practically charging forwards. She slammed her hands on the table, the gameboard rattling a little from the action. Yuffie's dark eyes were flicking between them, a smirk on her face as she stood up and held a hand up, her forefinger pointing up at the ceiling as her other hand rested on her hip, Yuffie stood there nodding seemingly sure on whatever was going through her mind. "I've been trying to find you! I thought we were spending the day on the beach, huh? I didn't think you'd be in here, of all places playing this game."