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[use_everything]

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[failureisntachoice]

I don't count a shoulder massage to be that intimate, but fine.

This'll do. [ Particularly since she'd like this first round to figure out his go-to strategies for winning. ]

[use_everything]

Ah. You hadn't specified. Cordelia prefers- [And stops, and simply lets that go with a shake of his head. That hardly matters here.

The terms set, he puts quite a bit more concentration towards the game.]

[failureisntachoice]

I know what she prefers. [ It's more a mutter and a light tinge of red on her cheeks as she redoubles her focus on the board. Yeah, that's the last of that conversation.

She continues playing defensively, goading him into offensive tactics where she can. It's the best way for her to build a profile of him and she can afford to lose this bet. It's the next one she'd like to win. ]

[use_everything]

[He looks at her, mouth open as if to say something and... decides against it.

It's not many moves from here, the small game of give and take, before he suddenly moves into the offense, several pieces played from the beginning of the game to the most recent fall backs and aggressive bites at her drawing tactics... come together into something cohesive, closing the gaps around Tex's forces neatly.

A tactic he's aware she likely watched fall into place and allowed it to develop, but smoothly done, none the less.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ Hm. So that's his style.

She watches as he deals the last blow and nods to herself. That's not enough to build a detailed profile on his tactics, but it's a damn good start that should carry her through the following round. ]

Pick an afternoon and don't forget your apron.

[use_everything]

I'll look forward to that.

[He does have to work on getting those House uniforms. It would probably look admirably ridiculous on top of that.]

[failureisntachoice]

Round 2? We'll need another bet.

[ She's already setting up the board. ]

[use_everything]

[Cautiously emboldened, he lets her roll for her side first.]

I admit to a lack of creativity when it comes to bets without motive or strategy behind them. I think an occasion out at your treat would suffice for my wager.

[failureisntachoice]

[ She almost laughs at that. ]

Can you afford my bar tab?

[use_everything]

Y.....

Hm.

[failureisntachoice]

Well? I'm waiting.

[use_everything]

Not at the particular rate and dedication to consumption at your finest, no.

[failureisntachoice]

I can agree to a limit that makes it within your budget. Or you can cover the tab for us going out and doing a tasting, you do need to figure out the alcohol I like. How else are you going to pick out my bonuses?

[use_everything]

Ah. That has merit.

[failureisntachoice]

It's something I've been meaning to do. You want me to foot the bill for that if you win? Or something else?

[use_everything]

I think that's fair enough terms.

[failureisntachoice]

Then let's play.

[ She'll keep her start slow, similarly defensive to her tactics before until she starts making use of that profile she constructed of him. Maybe this is a waste of her abilities as a walking computer, but she sure as hell doesn't plan on changing. ]

[use_everything]

[The moves themselves change, but the underlying tactics remain the same. He doesn't overstretch himself, but he's certainly one who likes to control the board rather than a certain piece of it.]

I had wondered if you wouldn't find this sort of thing boring, honestly.

[failureisntachoice]

The company helps. And I like winning.

[ Confident even after her previous loss. She studies his movements on the board and starts encroaching on his territories, slowly. ]

[use_everything]

I'm hoping to disappoint you on the latter.

[He shifts tactics slightly, drawn out into a careful offense, trying for the weak spots in her lines.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ She lets out a light snort as she takes care not to shore up her defenses too much. That would only leave more openings and besides, she'd rather entrap his pieces where she can. ]

Going to make me spend my first paycheck on lost bets?

[use_everything]

Never.

Second, perhaps.

[failureisntachoice]

Ha ha. You're lucky I'm not the type to twist expense reports.

[use_everything]

Just so.

[He gives a bit of a grin at that, and studying the board... Musters an offense to push through her line, risky, but the only option left with the slow circling.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ That had been the move she'd been waiting for. She smirks to herself as she pulls what would normally be a risky maneuver and for some reason isn't against the rules of this damn board game to ensure her victory. ]