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Victoria had a way about things. She'd work a week at one place and move onto the next, random of course. But, where ever she ended up at the staff knew her, welcomed her as their own. And, Auden had come to be no different.

Dark had just settled in as had the livelier of the 'days' crowd. The big chested, half dressed dancers had come out to appease the crowd and earn their coins. The booze split over as it was slid down the bar. The air was just starting to get thick with smoke and laughter.

The saucy half pint flicked her hip just so as she sat a plate down in front of Auden. Sure her kiddo probably should have been upstairs sleeping or at least away from all of this. However, she knew Auden best and knew he would be right there in it if she repeatedly told him no. Besides everyone loved him, he brought her good tips. And, a sympathy card because after all 'twelve years old' and raising a kid. She went with it and never told them her real age.

Auden giggled as he picked up the apple from the plate. "Thanks," he said to his guardian. His eyes drifted over towards one of the dancers. He wasn't really looking at the girl but more what she wore.

Sitting off to one side, seeming to be showing little interest in the game at had as much as he was showing interest in the dancers was a redhaired card player named Flynn Eldritch. He hadn't exactly been doing well tonight and he hadn't quite caught on why yet... at times he forgot that his actions would bring about changes in the mood of the one he traveled with. Changing his mood meant changing the aura around him... an unhappy Ante meant his aura shifted, if it wasn't in Flynn's favor he would be on his own when it came to cards. Since he wasn't paying to much attention he wasn't winning.

Then there was Ante who seemed to be doing quite well, only losing a couple of hands though that was to keep up the act that he could lose... he'd been taught by Flynn that it was important to let the others at the table win from time to time or else they would stop giving up their money. If the money dried up they moved on to a new establishment. He looked around the table, over at his friend, then felt the overwhelming urge to smack the guy with his tail. He was drooling over them again! Ante didn't like it, didn't like the idea of sharing his friend, and his possessiveness seemed to only grow each time the dragon grew.

The dragon laid down his cards, pulled in another pot of money in front of him, the looked at Flynn, "One more good hand and I am going to have all of your cash, Flynn." He told the redhead. If he won it all he wasn't going to share if Flynn kept spacing off he thought to himself, giving a little pout.

Auden's wondering gaze had ended up on the pair in the corner. He didn't know much about cards other than it seemed to have the same result as his guardian's line of work, coins. Coins meant savings and things they liked. Wanting to help he decided to slid off the stool. Apple in hand he toddled over to the table where everyone was seated.

"I got's this to offer," he said as he held up an apple with a bite, some pocket fuzz, a bead, a shell, a couple of silver coins, and some string. "Can I plays? Please."

Ante looked down at the boy for a long moment then he nodded his head, "You can play with me if you like, I could use a partner." He offered. As he did so Flynn jerked his head up and toward Ante, knowing that if he were going to take the boy and help him to play that it would mean the boy having some damn good luck, "I will spot you a handful of coins so you can get in on the game, nobody has a problem with that, right?"

Nobody seemed to, likely because they all figured that the kid wouldn't be winning any of their money and that the boy just help them win Ante's money since he was giving it to Auden.

"Thank you," Auden giggled excitedly. He set his collection of treasures on the table for the just in case that it needed to be used. "This looks like a lot of fun. Is it easy?" Easy or not he was all for it. He wasn't good with numbers past ten, but he did his best. "My mommy makes work look easy."

"Yous pretty," he told the male that had let him play with him. "My names Auden. Yous."

"Yes, I think that its pretty easy." Ante said as he set some neatly stacked coins in front of Auden, "I will help you out, don't worry." He was going to have fun with this, he didn't often get to help anyone but himself and Flynn, to help Auden help it would be fun. When he was told that he was pretty Ante couldn't but to smile a bit, "Am I? That is nice of you to say, Auden. My name is Ante Up Eldritch." He introduced himself before he watched as the next hand of cards was dealt.

"Now the most important thing is to make sure that nobody but the two of us see your cards." He explained to Auden.

"I's got last name too but I's never remember it."

"Keep um secret. Got it!" He grinned as he picked up the cards that had been set down in front of him. His hands were tiny but he did his best to hold them all at once. "What's-" He didn't finish asking what it was because that would give away what card he was holding. All he knew is that a woman was on his card with funny clothes.

Ante looked at the cards that Auden had before smiled, "Not bad." He said, pointing at two of them, "Lay these two down and ask the dealer for two new cards." He said, using his aura to give Auden a blessing of luck before he checked his own cards, asking for only one himself. He smiled to himself, he could see the worried look on the face of Flynn's face as he seemed to turn his attention back to the game once more, getting more into the game and less into the women that were dancing around knowing he was in trouble now...