[OOM] Oswin, Moriarty and Poker.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty's room is - much as someone would expect. There's a bed, a desk with an array of soil samples and various examining equipment (as well as a pile of unmarked papers) and a few large armchairs and a leather sofa set around a coffee table.

Moriarty holds open the door for Oswin, before setting the bottles on the coffee table and taking off his coat, hanging it up by the door. His boots are deposited beneath it. After all, it's rude to wear a coat and boots inside.

"I hope you don't mind losing too much," he says cheerily.

Comments

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"You're clever," Moriarty says, standing up.

The cravat comes off first, set on the back of his chair. Then, a little more shyly, he unbuttons and strips off his shirt. Last go his trousers, dropped to his ankles and stepped out of while Moriarty looks like he might just about explode into a cloud of embarrassment on the spot.

In defiance of all logic, he looks down to check that his underwear hasn't vanished into the night when he wasn't looking.

[souffle_girlek]

She'd wolf-whistle, she really would, but he really does look quite near to exploding and/or hiding behind the couch, and that just seems anti-productive. She is, however, somewhat shameless failing to hide the fact that she believes the view is good, ogling openly while helping herself to more of the rotgut.

"I'm going to start a new anti-cravat club." She announces, cheerfully.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Er," Moriarty is momentarily distracted from his near-explosion experience by being confused, "why?"

[souffle_girlek]

"'Cause then you wouldn't have one." She replies. "So, feeling lucky? Maybe I should give you a chance to win some clothes back."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"But - why would you not want me to have a cravat?"

He doesn't answer the question, because priorities.

[souffle_girlek]

She giggles at him (in an entirely not tipsy fashion, really, though she can't really remember giggling much before) and points at his trousers.

"One." Then his shirt. "Two."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Long pause.

"Oh," Moriarty says, as realisation dawns. "I - see." He flushes red again, but laughs, ducking his head and settling into his seat.

"I think I question your taste," he says, eventually.

[souffle_girlek]

"Mmm, that's the brilliant thing about taste - I can have one all my own." Oswin points out cheerfully. "And I think I have wonderful taste, thank you."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty grins, ducking his head. "One more round? We've both had too much to drink for any more than that, I'd say."

[souffle_girlek]

"One more - maybe if you're lucky, you can even the playing field." She grins back, sucking down more of the rotgut.

Whoo. That's... good stuff. Yup.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty snorts, dealing out the cards. Peering at his, he absently downs a little more rotgut, looking thoughtful.

[souffle_girlek]

"So, what shall the opening bet be? Your funds are limited, sir." Oswin scans through her hand, tagging aside two.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I'll bet one," Moriarty says. Then, wryly: "I'm not in much of a position to bet much else."

[souffle_girlek]

"Ah well, chin up - maybe your luck will turn." Her grin turns wolfish. "Call, and discard two. Though, you know, I won't complain if it doesn't."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I'll discard three," Moriarty says. "I don't know about that. For all you know, it could be a quite terrible sight under these. Gangrene everywhere. Pus seeping. Blood everywhere."

[souffle_girlek]

"That's alright, I know a guy who makes hallucinogens." She snorts, eyeing her new cards. "He even claims they're effective."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"You'll have to put me in touch with him. He sounds exceptionally clever," Moriarty says, peering at his cards. "Feel like making a bet?"

[souffle_girlek]

"Playing fast and loose with the rules worked out well for me before - I would bet two, but you've got to make me an offer that'd make it worth it." Her tone is of utmost innocence. Truly. Butter wouldn't melt in that mouth.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Suspiciously: "What would you want in exchange? A vague estimate."

Because all Moriarty is coming up with is 'maybe I could take off my skin', but that would be a) Not worth it for Oswin, and b) Kind of painful and weird.

[souffle_girlek]

"Mmm." She blinks, a little owlish from the alcohol. "Can you sing, James?"

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I, er - yes. I'm better on the violin, though."

[souffle_girlek]

"Violin, then." There's a wistful note in her voice that she's too well-dosed with alcohol to edit out. "I'll take that."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Deal. One article and a song on the violin if you win," Moriarty says.

[souffle_girlek]

"Right." Hmm. He actually went for it. This could... be a problem. She blames distraction by violin.

"Pair of kings."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty drops his cards. "Pair of jacks."

Beat.

"If I play an extra-long song on the violin, do I get to forego being nude?"