Samael watched Wash for a few seconds as the scowling chupa dropped into a chair. He couldn't help but notice it was the one closest to the door. He figured it hadn't been the worst start to things, and no matter how upbeat he was, even he knew not to expect miracles. He held no personal grudge against Wash, but he'd certainly learned from the first day he'd met the guy that Agent Washington wasn't going to be someone he could ever sway with even his strongest gaze. Befriending him had always looked like a lost cause.

Not that he hadn't still tried, because Samael also didn't know how to give up. York had warned him, CT had warned him...hell, even North had slapped his back the last time he'd seen Wash snapping at him, telling him that was just Wash being Wash, and not to take it personally. And he didn't, he never had.

Even if it felt personal, since Wash's already-tiny pool of patience seemed to be bone-dry whenever Samael was in the room. He hadn't yet figured out why, but that was no reason to quit. York was his best friend, and his best friend's best friend deserved whatever it took to try and be comfortable around him. Felt kinda silly to be doomed to an eternity of cold looks and wrinkled muzzles whenever Samael came to visit.

The cards and loosely-organized case of betting chips had been left atop the folding table and Samael snagged the latter to quickly divvy out evenly among the four spots. Yeah, Wash was worth whatever effort was needed, because for York to be so crazy for the guy meant he was special. You didn't catch the heart of someone like York without something powerful of your own, no matter what the rest of the world assumed.

And the world sure did like to assume.

His eyes flicked to Andee, who was swift to claim the chair opposite Wash in what was deliberately a move to be as far as possible from him. Someone else with an impenetrable shell.

Heh. Perhaps not quite impenetrable.

Samael smiled a bit even as he glanced down at the faint scars across his breast from that rainy day in Lactan. More to add to his collection, though they were considerably more personal than his others. Nearly as personal as the one he'd earned in Kaprime. And it wasn't that he'd wanted to get shot for Andee, nor that he'd ever intended to use it as a way to open the bat's spiny carapace. Hell, if anything, it'd made it worse at first. But it'd proven all the same that Andee wasn't without emotion, that he wasn't as callous and cruel and heartless as everyone else claimed, as he himself paraded about.

Two very different yet oddly similar figures, both beautiful in their jagged edges and complex imperfections. Samael had no problem believing everything York had admitted to him about his feelings for Wash, because goddamn if he wasn't in an identical place with the bat. They were cursed to be enraptured by these flawed individuals, as broken as York and Samael themselves. God, what else could they do but love them, though? They couldn't control their hearts, or the way their emotions had chosen to wrap securely around their partners, in spite of what anyone else said, in spite of what whispers might drift through their own thoughts.

Some things were just meant to be.

"Ay, shortstack, ya fuckin' forget how to count?! Gimme more chips!"

Samael smiled slightly. Who was he to question a damn thing? He had no intention of turning back, now. "Hey now, I learned them maths pretty good back in them caves, you gotta get that recipe jus' right or yer 'shine'll come out as jet fuel!" he replied with a wink, tossing Andee a few more chips before balancing out the rest of the table.

"You know that's right," York chimed in as he wedged off the lid of his own bottle to allow free the vaguely-citrus scent of his chosen beverage. "Oh damn, this one smells good, Sammy!"

"Christ, are you crazy? It does smell like jet fuel," Wash muttered with a raised eyebrow while subconsciously organizing his chips into neat stacks. Samael smiled slightly at this and then chuckled while removing the deck of cards from its pack and rapidly thumbing through to ensure none were missing.

"Heh, hopefully you'll think it tastes a'right, though! Used a li'l basket'a Honkal tangerelons in that particular batch." He watched, unable to avoid the curious grin as York lifted the bottle and then took a careful sip. "Don't hold nothin' back, now, y'know I need that good feedback!"

York winced at the first splash of the potent liquor, then grimaced and swallowed...before his eyes lit up as he lifted the bottle to stare at it. "Holy shit, that's good!"

Samael beamed enormously, a warm thrum of delight running along his spine. York always had been talented at making him feel appreciated, no matter how shitty the rest of the world acted. His eyes lingered on the tan chupa for a moment or two and he let his mind wander, flicking through the pages tucked away into the "what if" section of his memories. He was never far from thinking about how things might have turned out, how a left instead of a right, a yes instead of a no might have put them on a different path together, as more than just close friends.

A sharp impact against his spine made him jolt back to reality with a whimper. "Get the fuckin' cotton outta ya ears, ya fuckin' inbred bastard!"

He blinked a few times before looking sheepishly at Andee, whose eyes had narrowed as he leveled a long look at the grey chupa. "Uh, shit, sorry, sorry! Wha'd ya ask, hon?"

"How come you givin' York a look like you're 'bout to crawl under the table 'n give 'im a fuckin' blowy, that's what!" Andee snapped as York gave a stifled snort while Wash flattened his expression once again. Samael started to form an apology, but Andee had already given a lackadaisical flick of his wrist. "Nah, I asked what the fuck kinda poker we're playin', ya numbskull! He already said ya stupid redneck liquor tastes fine, so quit frettin' 'n start the bettin'!"

Samael chortled as York grinned curiously across the table at him -- he couldn't help but wonder how often his hulking friend meandered across the same thoughts...but that was a conversation for another time. "Alright, alright, ya impatient li'l wingding! There's four of us here, I figured a nice game of Wortie Hold 'Em would be perfect!"

York smiled brightly as he held up the bottle of moonshine. "Aw yeah! We've played that plenty!" He nudged Wash with a paw under the table. "You remember the rules, right, little buddy?"

"I was the one who corrected you last time we played in the rec room -- you kept dealing to the right," Wash grumbled while slumping in his chair as he held the bottle of beer close to his jacket. "Are we gonna play with blinds?"

"I thought we wasn't playin' no fuckin' sexy poker, but the squirrel's over here talkin' bondage 'n shit!" Andee retorted with a suspicious look to Wash, who stared across the table for a moment before sighing loudly.

"Not blindfolds, blinds, where you...wait, do you even know how to play?" Wash asked, casting an accusing glare back at the bat.

Andee flared his nostrils, slamming a fist against the table hard enough to make a few of Wash's chips tumble out of their obsessive-compulsive piles. "I know how to play just fine!" he shot back. Samael tried not to smile as he caught the hint of an embarrassed shift in Andee's shoulders. "We just play straight in Xulod, we don't use all these fuckin' fancy extra rules!"

Samael and York simultaneously moved their eyes back to Wash, who grit his teeth and started to lean forward. York grinned and effortlessly swept in first as he tipped the container of moonshine toward Andee. "Please, Andee, I'm starting to think there's nothing straight about Xulod after all the things I've heard from Sammy -- multi-tit-bat-chicks or otherwise!"

Andee tore his glower away from Wash long enough to huff loudly at York. "Hey, we just ain't got all the inhibitions like you surface-fucks! Everyone bones just about everyone else down there, unless ya got taste like me!"

Samael flashed his own grin as he lashed out playfully with his tail to smack it against Andee's wrist. The jingle of his piercing was just enough to make York give his own twitch, and he winked at his friend before cooing at the bat: "That explains why yer so crazy 'bout me, eh?"

"Nah, that's just 'cause I'm fuckin' crazy," Andee muttered before he gestured impatiently at York. "Gimme some'a that fruity shit, I'm gonna need it with all these dumb questions..."

York chuckled and shrugged while handing the bottle to Andee as Samael cackled. "Careful now, hon, y'know how that 'shine lays ya out right proper!"

"Ay, don't fuckin' worry 'bout me, you just remind me how these stupid fuckin' chupa-rules work!" he complained before taking a quick swig of the bottle. Samael masked his smirk with a laugh as he began to shuffle the deck. He opened his muzzle to explain, then paused and tossed a small smile back to Wash.

"Heh, 'sbeen a minute since I played house rules, m'self -- you mind refreshin' the gang, hon?"

Wash blinked and then turned up a sour look. "I...ugh." He glared at Andee, but the bat was busy trying not to wheeze as he passed the moonshine back to a grinning York. "Fine." Samael smiled to himself and worked the cards deftly between his fingers as Wash mumbled and looked over his chips before picking up the smallest denomination, marked with the number one hundred. "Okay, so...I'll just assume we want to start with the lowest amount..." He paused before pursing his muzzle. "Although the game would go a lot faster if we started with bigger blinds--"

York was quick to laugh, gesturing to Wash with the bag of potato chips before squeezing into it to force it open with a soft pop! "Nice try, little buddy!"

"Ay, wait, squirrel-boy might gotta good point! Who says I wanna be stuck with you mooks that long!" Andee chimed in with a dirty look at Samael, who snickered and then nudged the bat's leg with a paw beneath the table.

"I thought you said you was gonna show me how you was gonna prove ain't no top-sider c'n out-poker a bat!" he sang out as Andee scowled.

"'Bout to show you a bat-poker, right up ya fuzzy ass," Andee grumbled even as he pulled his cap low, then grunted in resignation. "Yeah, yeah, get on wid' the rules, then!!" he spat out before tilting his chair back precariously so he could reach out to snatch up one of the plates of cookies.

Andee cursed as the chair tipped just a hair too far, his eyes widening and wings flailing when he began to tumble backward...only to squawk in relief when the chair halted in mid-arc. He looked down stupidly and then huffed at the sight of York's massive paw resting on one of the legs to keep it steady. Samael immediately grinned and held out a fist for York to slam his own against while Andee groaned loudly. "Good save, lap-dog!"

"Oh, blow it out ya ass, Fiffy," Andee mumbled, grabbing the pastries and then looking pointedly at York, who smirked and eased the chair back down while batting his eyes at Wash.

"I still got it, eh??" York chirped.

"Truly the best use of years' worth of elite training and exercise," Wash replied dryly. "Anyway, the blinds are like..." He trailed off before staring in disbelief as Andee slung his chair carelessly onto its rear legs once more. "Are...are you fucking kidding me?!?"

York only laughed, already moving to again hold the chair steady with a paw while Andee grunted and stretched a wing out to grab a bottle of beer. "Look, if ya big dumb were-mutt boyfriend's gonna make himself useful for free, I ain't gonna not take advantage of it!" He sniffed but nonetheless offered a grudging grunt of what might have been gratitude in York's direction before using his oversized front teeth to pry the cap from the bottle...which he promptly flung at Wash. Wash snarled and batted it away while Andee half-grinned and inquired sweetly: "So how's those blinds work again?"

Samael grimaced, before smiling slightly in surprise when Wash only sucked on his cheeks and then took a deep breath. The guy really was trying hard, though Samael had no misconceptions that it was for any other reason beyond trying to do something nice for York. Not a bad motivation, as far as he was concerned.

"Whoever is to the dealer's left puts the small blind down to start the pot..." He stopped long enough to take what was probably a bracing swig of his beer. "And then whoever's to the left of that person puts down double that, which is the big blind." Wash shrugged and gestured to Andee, who gave him a horrible look in return. "Then the next spot matches the big blind -- or raises -- if they're staying in the hand, and you keep going around until everyone's either folded or put the same amount in the pot."

Andee screwed up his features before picking up a hundred-chip to study it intensely. "Well...what if I don't wanna put up the blind?" he asked sullenly while taking his own sip of beer.

Wash looked at him flatly. "Those are the rules. If you're in the position to post the big or small blind, you have to, no matter your cards."

Andee's face grew more disgusted. "Even if I gotta shit hand?? That's some bullshit! What if I wanna fold?!" He scoffed but tossed the chip into the middle all the same. He glanced over to watch York push two of the same markers forward, looking only somewhat mollified by the display.

Wash shrugged as Samael dealt the first hole card to each of them. "You can still fold. But the blind goes in the pot, regardless."

"That's fuckin' stupid!" Andee protested as York grinned and leaned toward him conspiratorially.

"There is one secret, though, if you want to fold after posting a blind," he whispered, coaxing Andee to bend toward him somewhat. Samael tried not to grin too broadly while tossing out the second face down card to each of them. "It makes you a little bitch!" York concluded as Andee blinked and then yanked off his cap to smack at the tan chupa's shoulder while York laughed and sat back up. "Hey, we're just tryin' to teach you the rules, don't get mad at me!"

"Yeah, I gotta few rules to teach you about," Andee muttered while slapping the hat back between his ears and then squinting around the table before peeking at his cards as Wash and York followed suit. Samael set the deck back in front of himself, then lifted the corners of his own pocket cards. Five and a Queen, nothing to sniff at.

His eyes flicked across to York -- his tells were about as hard to read as Samael's, especially after all the games they'd played together -- then over to Wash, who gave a small twitch of an eye before laying his cards flat again and lifting the bottle to his muzzle morosely. He'd be fun to watch, especially based on some of the stories York had told him before. And then finally there was Andee, who looked rather smugly pleased as he rolled his shoulders and then took a cookie from the plate to chomp into while peering expectantly at the rest of the table. Oh yeah, this certainly wasn't going to be a boring game.

Wash leaned back in his chair. "Fold."

Andee's eyes shot wide. "Hey! Don't that make him a little bitch?!"

"Nope, since he didn't have to post a blind!" York replied cheerfully before he snickered and sipped from the moonshine. "My little buddy's always been shrewd!" He offered the open bag of chips to Wash, who grunted and shook his head.

Andee huffed. "Be more accurate if you took away the 'd', which ya should, since that squirrel ain't worthy of it!!"

Wash scowled at the bat as Samael laughed and nudged two hundred into the pot. "Don't worry, sugar-bear, I'll bring that 'd' right back! I'm in!"

Andee thrust a finger at Samael. "You keep that fuckin' blueberry popsicle in your damn pants, you ain't givin' any free shows away, Fiffy!"

"Oh, I dunno, might be fun to have a discussion about those crazy piercings you got," York teased before passing the moonshine across the table when Samael gestured to it.

Wash rolled his eyes and covered his face with a hand. "Oh god, no, the picture was torture enough..."

Andee's eyes widened even further before he glared at Samael while the redneck grinned around the swig of liquor. "What the fuck, Sammy?? You just sendin' dick pics all over the fuckin' ring now?!"

Samael was fairly certain he detected a touch of pride underneath the protest but he kept his cool expression while taking another gulp of the citrus-infused moonshine before handing it back to York. "C'mon now, you 'n Mutt did a fine-ass job with them li'l scraps from Sampi -- you know I had to show that off to York, that shit turned out real good!" He chuckled as Andee wrinkled his muzzle, adding playfully: "Don't let all this talkin' 'bout my Sampi surprise keep you outta this hand, sweet-cheeks..."

Andee fired him a dark look and then peered at the pot before glowering back across the table to Wash. Wash met his eyes evenly. "You have to call to match the big blind, raise or fo--"

"I ain't a little bitch!" Andee interrupted churlishly before flicking another hundred into the middle. "Anyway, you better be proud of it, Mutt don't do that kinda custom work for just anybody!" He leered at York for a minute. "Fiffy's decked-out junk looks fuckin' good, right??"

Samael tried not to grin too broadly...not that it mattered, since York did it for him. "Oh yeah it does! That's why I had to show Wash!" Samael muffled his snicker at the awkward look on Wash's features. "It looks even better in person, too!!" The two muscular chupas shared a playful wink as Andee and Wash both groaned, though the bat was quick to jab a wing at Wash.

"Well? Now that we all know you love dicks, too, what's the word, squirrel-boy?! Scale of one to ten, where do ya put Sammy's boom-stick?" Samael shifted his eyes curiously to Wash, who glanced back at him with a deep-set frown before quickly glaring at Andee again.

"I'm not remotely drunk enough to even consider talking about anyone's dick," Wash replied drolly while York laughed. Samael didn't miss the way Wash quickly fumbled to add: "Nor...nor will I ever be."

"That sounds like a challenge to me," York replied teasingly as he tapped the table with a claw. "Check."

"Hell yeah, let's keep that booze flowin'," Samael added with a cackle before picking up the deck and dealing out three cards face-up next to the pot. He stole another look at Wash to catch him giving an odd expression his way, though he only smiled to himself. He had no doubt York really had shared that little picture with Wash, and he had an equal lack of doubt that Wash wanted anything but to discuss it.

...Still something kind of magical knowing his best friend's best friend now knew what his dick looked like, though.

He cast his eyes back over the flop cards -- a Nine, a Three and a Queen. Well now this was a fine start, indeed! He studied York's easy smile, then glanced over at Andee again to catch the tail end of a grimace that was quickly replaced with a cocky smirk. He had a feeling he knew what that meant. "Besides, I ain't the only one who got him a li'l bodywork done," he commented casually.

The way Andee froze up and shot him the hint of an embarrassed look was adorable. Also one hell of a clue that there was no real confidence in his hand. The bat cursed under his breath before shoving a few chips forward. "You keep ya whore mouth shut about my downstairs business -- you're the slut here, not me! An' take this five hundred as a reminder who the fuckin' boss is!"

"Awww, don't get mad, Andee," York chuckled as he eyed the flop before matching Andee's raise. "We're all pals here, and everyone knows that pals shouldn't have any problem chatting about their dicks!"

"Ain't that some hot truth!" Samael agreed with a grin. Wash immediately glared at them from behind his bottle while York puffed his chest out.

"You guys should see Wash's, it's--"

"York."

Samael's eyes slid to Wash bemusedly, the sharp tone from the slender chupa more than enough to silence York, even if the big guy continued to grin stupidly. "Heh. Right. More booze first." Wash rolled his eyes but seemed unwilling to further the argument as he returned to nursing his beer.

Kinda cute, in spite of what York had said regarding Wash's reluctance to make anything about their relationship official. Their dynamic was oh-so-familiar. Samael smiled before nudging forth five hundred in chips as well. "l'll see y'all," he announced. He moved to pull the next card from the deck and placed it next to the first three -- another Nine. He was quick to lift his eyes first to York, but his friend's cool gaze was prepared to meet him evenly, and the two traded a tiny smirk. No shock there.

Andee gave a small grumble but was quick to shove another five chips in what Samael was now sure was a bluff. "C'mon, ya babies, let's get this pot thick like Fiffy's ass!"

York was all grins as he calmly tossed in the same amount. "He do got a nice ass..." He paused to sip from the moonshine, then fired a single fingergun at Wash. "But not quite as good as my little buddy's!"

Wash replied with a glower that would have melted steel as Andee snorted loudly and reached for another cookie. "Fuck that noise, ain't no way squirrel-boy's gotta finer pair'a cheeks than this puppy, it's like fuckin' a cloud that don't know how to shut up!"

"Like you've ever complained 'bout my squealin'!" Samael retorted teasingly, once more matching their bets while Wash sunk lower in his chair with a mumble.

"Oh my god...it really is like being back in Specials...just...gayer."

"Hey, you say that like it's a bad thing!" York laughed before pulling out a handful of potato chips to chomp into. "Imagine how much more fun that would have been if we were all boning, too!"

"Hard pass," Wash muttered, encouraging another entertained smile from Samael while he laid down the river card. A King. Andee was quick to groan and Samael caught Wash surveying the bat briefly, half-smiling while he reached across the table for the moonshine that York automatically passed to him again. He hadn't expected Wash to really make much of an effort, but that sure as hell looked like someone taking note of someone else's tells. It was nice to be wrong sometimes.

Both York and Samael looked pointedly at Andee, who ground his teeth together before giving a moody look between them. "You two fuckin' assholes...whatever, fold, but I ain't no fuckin' bitch!" he grumbled as he irritably flicked his pocket cards into the pot.

Samael laughed as he hunched over to look squarely across at York. "Ya sure ain't, hon," he replied while his eyes locked with his friend's. "What's the word, big fella?"

York quirked a grin and glanced down long enough to fish out a five-hundred chip before adding it to the pot. "The word is 'bite down, I'm going in dry'."

Samael cackled as his tail gave a pleased spasm, the jangle making them both twitch. "Like you ever been dry a single gat-damn time 'round me," he rumbled, not at all surprised to feel the dual scowls from Andee and Wash both. "I'mma call that shit, there ain't no way anythin' in that hand'a yours is gonna rock my world," he added as he tossed in five hundred, both chupas reaching for their hole cards with matching grins. "Bam!" he announced gleefully. "Two pair!" Andee cursed while Wash only pursed his muzzle and gave what might have been an appraising grunt.

York's eyes narrowed as his muzzle spread into a toothy smirk. "What was that you said about my hand?" he asked confidently as all three of the others leaned over. The card on top was a 6...and then York slid it aside with one finger to reveal the 9 beneath it. "And here I thought a sixty-nine with Sammy was the hottest thing this side of Nerom!" York crowed victoriously as he stretched an arm out to scoop the pot toward himself.

Samael laughed and threw a playful middle finger as their two companions both sucked their teeth in dismay at the three of a kind. "Well shit, guess I shouldn't be surprised York's gonna be the first one havin' a threesome tonight!" He giggled and the pair shared matching finger-guns before Samael pushed the deck toward Andee and slid his chair backward. "Your deal, sweetie -- gettin' me a snack, anyone else need somethin'?" He strolled toward the refreshments while smiling back at the others. "Wash, yer beer still good? Andee?"

Andee only threw a wing out with a grunt before he gathered the rest of the cards to start shuffling them. Wash, on the other hand, looked at his almost-empty bottle and then shifted awkwardly on his chair while avoiding Samael's gaze. The redneck half-smiled again and snagged a fresh bottle along with a bowl filled with pretzels. He wasn't about to force anything -- this night needed to unfold as naturally as possible.

He strode back and nudged York's arm with the bottle of beer; his friend glanced up before smiling in understanding, grabbing the bottle from him and then using the edge of the table to pop the cap before he whistled softly and held it out to Wash. Samael watched as Wash blinked and then scowled even as he quickly finished his first bottle, then set it aside to accept the fresh one from York. "I...thanks," he mumbled.

Samael beamed and then plopped back in his seat, setting the pretzels down between himself and Wash. He reached over to pick up Andee's beer while the bat shuffled the deck, winking at the growl he received and taking a quick guzzle before setting the bottle back down and lacing his fingers behind his head.

Not a bad start at all.

"Quit gettin' ya dumb puppy germs all over my booze, Fiffy!" Andee exclaimed as he worked the cards together, his wings scraping along the edge of the table as he did so. Stupid chupas and their stupid extra fingers, making shit like this look so easy. Though one advantage of his leathery appendages, well...

He masked his grin as he smoothly tucked the King from the last board into the folds of a wing, holding it securely in place while cutting the deck and then shuffling it together one more time. He hadn't missed the fact Samael went out of his way to be nice to the stupid bitch across the table, but he was gonna let that slide. There were plenty of other ways to piss off that asshole, after all!

"So wait...you don't want his mouth on your beer...but it's all cool for him to slob your knob?" York inquired with a teasing grin.

"Yeah! Because I ain't fuckin' slobbin' my own knob!" Andee retorted as Samael snickered and raised a finger in the air.

"Even though he could if he wanted, li'l guy's bendy!"

"Even though I could if I wanted!" Andee repeated before huffing and starting to deal around the table. "But I ain't gotta because that's what the fuckin' redneck's for!"

"Wha'd I tell ya 'bout bein' long-term material?" Samael chirped with a wink to York. "I'm a...whatchamacallit...a good investibule!"

"Investment," Wash corrected flatly as he and York dropped the blinds into the middle of the table. Andee squinted at him for a second before snorting and passing a second card to each of them.

"Ay, don't make fun of my illiterate puppy, at least he knows which dick he likes best," Andee replied smugly, gesturing broadly with his half-empty bottle of beer, drawing everyone's eyes upward so he could drop the hidden King atop his first hole card. When no one called it out, he let his grin spread and lowered the bottle to his muzzle, pausing long enough to add around it: "Since some of us can't seem to make up their minds!"

He caught the small frown Samael gave him, ignoring it in favor of observing the grimace that formed on Wash's features. "What the fuck's that mean, you little asshole?"

Samael glanced at his cards, then added to the pot as across from him, York cleared his throat. "Now, now, what'd we say about calling each other assholes?"

"Who gives a fuck, I'mma call an asshole an asshole when I sees one!" Andee shot back before he sniffed and then peeked at his own cards. Jack of Spades...that went nicely with the King of the same suit. He was a better cheater than he gave himself credit for! He smirked and tossed in his own two hundred while settling his eyes on Wash again. "Anyway, I'm just talkin' 'bout what I hear that you're still ridin' that crazy bitch Tex and her monster dick, despite the fact this stupid were-mutt's waggin' his fuck-stick like an oversized horndog around your skinny ass!"

"Andee..." York's tone carried a hint of a warning, looking pointedly at Andee even while he threw in a hundred more to stay in the hand.

"Don't fucking go there," Wash snarled as he glared back at the bat. "I'm not in the fucking mood."

"Hey, I thought we was all pals?" Andee replied in a simpering tone, batting his eyes and dealing out the three flop cards. "Ain't it normal for pals to talk about their girlfriends?? I just wanna know if you're still with her 'cause you like balls that big, or if you're just a fan of havin' ya ass thrown around the bedroom like a fuckin' squirrel-shaped ragdoll?"

Wash grit his teeth and shoved his chair back as both Samael and York gazed at him worriedly. Andee narrowed his eyes but kept smirking as the scrawny chupa stood and bent forward. "I said I'm not in the fucking mood -- keep it up and I'm fucking done, screw this stupid fucking game..."

Andee flinched at the touch to his shoulder, glancing down and then scowling at the sight of Samael's hand gripping lightly into him. He stared into his companion's eyes, but there was no anger, only a really frustratingly pitiful solicitation. "Andee...hon, please..."

He continued to glare at Samael for a second or two, debating if it was worth it to ruin the whole fucking night right then and there. And he knew he could, too, easy as fucking could be. But he decided he'd be satisfied just knowing he could. He finally ran his tongue along the bottom of his teeth and flicked his eyes back to Wash. "Eh, fine, fine. I don't gotta talk about my dick, Wash ain't gotta talk about his scary girlfriend."

He looked expectantly across at Wash and the infuriated chupa remained standing for a moment before York spoke up. "Hey now, it's not like Wash is the one with a bunch of extra bed-buddies at the table, ya know." He grinned and Andee gave him a sour look, even as he noted the way Wash's hackles slowly lowered, followed by him dropping sullenly back into his chair. "You're talking to one of Sirca's most eligible one-night-stands!"

Andee snorted, only to be surprised as Wash interjected moodily: "Oh, fucking please, even you're nothing compared to Samael. Odd that Andee wants to bring this shit up when his...friend is the biggest goddamn whore on the ring..."

The bat slung a petulant visage across the table, momentarily tempted to bring Tex up again if only to ensure he got in the last fucking word before this jerk went scurrying off in anger, but no, now that felt too easy. And he wasn't in any kind of state yet to enjoy Samael pouting and moping around the rest of the night. Besides, there was still a card game to win, which reminded him that all the delightful drama had distracted him from the flop. "Yeah, you don't think I know that 'bout the fuckin' midget bastard??" he intoned as he peered at the three cards on the board. A King, a Two and a Six...but the latter were both spades. Oh yeah, this was gonna be his hand.

Wash exhaled shortly and took a moment to examine his own face down cards. He lifted his eyes to York, who offered a small smile while indicating a check and then turned his attention back to the table. Wash reached down and then picked out two five-hundred chips to slide into the middle. York gave a low whistle as Andee only scoffed. "Raise a thousand," Wash muttered before he glanced at Samael for a second. "And...you're fine with that? With...with Samael being..." he trailed off while shifting his gaze incredulously back to Andee.

Andee snorted and then gave his own brief look to Samael. "Yeah I'm fine wit' it!" he spat out. He waited a moment for Samael, who pushed his cards forward with a grunt to bow out of the hand before gazing at the bat with a soft expression. "This stupid puppy knows who to come home to," Andee added mildly before he sniffed and flicked a matching bet into the pot. "I'mma call that shit, you ain't gonna fool me with no distractions."

"Your loss," Wash uttered while crossing his arms.

"Yeah, we'll see who's losin' in a minute," Andee taunted while flipping the next card on the deck and dropping it onto the board. His eyes jumped to it and he reined in the bemused grin -- the King of Clubs. Even if his flush didn't materialize, a three of a kind wasn't shabby. The Jack in his hand made it even better. He chuckled and then gave an expectant raise of his eyebrow to York. "So what, you ain't cool with York doin' the same thing? Because I know just with Sammy alone, that fuckin' tree-trunk is gettin' his dick plenty wet." He brought his eyes back to Wash.

Wash pursed his muzzle. "Why would it bother me? I...we're...not a thing."

York barked out a laugh, but even without having Samael's gift of introspection, Andee plucked out the hurt undertone. The bat snorted as he watched York thoughtfully, seeing the way the giant chupa forced a goofy grin. "Ouch, little buddy! Com'on, now, we're best friends! Partners!" York paused and looked at the turn card before taking a guzzle from the moonshine. "In life, in rebelhood, and in this hand, too -- I'll stay in." He winked, but Andee didn't miss the way his shoulders drooped somewhat, and the bat certainly caught the concerned gaze across the table from Samael.

It would have been so easy to tear into them both, for Wash being so stubborn despite what were obvious big-gay-emotions, and for York not having a fuckin' spine and saying something in protest. For the way York looked like he might cry even as he thrust a hand into the bag of potato chips and shoved a bunch into his muzzle to try and mask his pout.

But...something stopped him. Andee didn't like it, didn't like the way he felt almost guilty contemplating the continuation of his assault. Maybe he recognized there was a stupid hypocrisy to it, because for fuck's sake, wasn't this like what he went through with Samael? The denial he unfortunately knew he'd experienced...still sometimes experienced, because it wasn't like he was suddenly ready to tell the whole fucking ring he gave a damn about the smooth-brained redneck. But that was his business, and his alone. Bringing it up for these two jack-offs might have only put a brighter spotlight on himself.

That was the last fuckin' thing he needed, not when he knew all too well that there would come a day he'd have to be able to keep Samael at a goddamn arm's length. Samael was his puppy, alright, and they'd shared some fucking magic since their fight in the plaza. But those terrifying emotions from that day lingered still, a reminder of what Andee risked by trying to make this shitty idea work.

This wasn't the time to stir up that shit, though. He was still riding the high of the mission he and Samael had gotten through, and the wake of pulling off such a fuckin' miracle at the Himroc hadn't yet faded, either. Nah, he could keep this bucket rolling, maybe even grudgingly come to terms with the fact that Samael hadn't been wrong about these two clowns. The stupid lawn gnome was rarely wrong about anyone, after all.

So Andee propped up a coy smile instead of the smirk he'd had prepared, his gleaming eyes settling on Wash. "Not a thing? Heh, ya coulda fooled me! Yous two got more sexual tension between ya than when Sammy wanted to get our bone on in a hammock -- tried to tell 'em that was the wrong kinda rope to get tangled up with!"

York certainly looked delighted at the claim, and the way Samael brightened instantly had more of a warming effect on Andee than he wanted to admit. Fuckin' hell, he hated that going out of his way to make the dumb puppy smile always felt so good. Wash, however, only scowled uncomfortably and shifted on his chair before placing two more chips into the pot.

"Raise two-thousand -- will that be enough to shut you up?" Wash scowled but his eyes flicked to York as he snatched his beer back up to drink deeply from it. The expression he made wasn't one of disgust, that was for damn sure. Andee knew that look of hesitation all too well.

God, these two dumbass ex-Freelancers really were screwed.

"Gawddamn, someone's ready to rumble!" Samael drawled with an impressed grin at Wash. He reached over to grab a few pretzels, then gave a surprised smile when Wash followed suit and snagged a handful for himself with a disconsolate grumble. Andee huffed but was quick to match the bet before draining nearly the rest of his own bottle.

"Let's go, then, squirrel-boy! That li'l three of a kind ya got over there ain't shit!"

Andee shifted his glare to York, who was still studying Wash before he smiled bemusedly and pushed his cards forward while lifting his other hand. "Changed my mind, you two crazy bastards are on your own here, I've seen that look on Wash's face before. It scares me." He flashed a playful grin to Andee. "But I kinda get a fear-boner from it, too, so take that as you will."

Andee huffed and gestured rudely to York before wielding his empty bottle to jab at Wash across the table. "I'll take it, alright, all the way to the motherfuckin' bank!" he boasted. Samael started to push his chair back and Andee whipped his head around to squint up at him. "Where the fuck you goin'?"

Samael smiled slightly. "Was gonna grab you another drink, hon."

Andee smirked. "Nah, nah, you stay right here 'n watch me wreck this squirrel's shit!"

The redneck paused before cocking his head in thought at the expression on Wash's face. Andee remembered that Samael had said they could be partners in the game, even if hold 'em didn't have no partners. Maybe he could use the dumb midget's people-reading-powers to his advantage. After a moment, Samael whistled softly and tipped his blue-eyed gaze back to the bat. "Whatever floats down that river, you'd best not get crazy with them chips, sweetie. Wash ain't foolin'."

York chortled and kicked playfully at Samael beneath the table. "Yo! No psychic powers at the table!"

Andee only snorted confidently before laying down the fifth card from the deck. "Fiffy's just tryin' to get back at me for not finishin' that handy on the drive over here tonight!" the bat exclaimed before his eyes widened at the Three of Spades that completed that beautiful flush for him.

He almost missed the opportunity to savor the horrible look from Wash as both York and Samael guffawed while the latter chimed in: "Ayyy, I thought we was gonna call it a wingy from now on, give you bat-folk the proper credit fer yer unique ways'a doin' sexy-times!"

Andee cackled, too enamored with his hand to be mad at Samael for his dumb gay shit. "I'll let ya call it whatever the fuck you want, since it ain't gonna be shit compared to what I'm about to do to Wash's tight ass!"

Wash was, unfortunately, still poised and collected as he finished his beer and mumbled around a couple of half-chewed pretzels: "Call. Let's get this done with."

"Oh, we's gonna get it done, alright!" Andee responded eagerly. He caught the look from Samael, though, and hesitated long enough to see his companion tilt his head in warning. But no, no. Samael was just being cautious, which was for the damn birds. Bah. The bat grinned toothily before pushing all his chips forward. "I'm all-fuckin'-in!"

"Oh shiiiit," York called out, dropping his muzzle into his palms with entertainment as he grinned between the bat and his long-time partner. "Sammy, better be ready with those tissues, there's about to be some tears!"

"Or just blood," Wash grumbled while glaring at the messy pile of chips. "Goddammit, Andee, do you even know how much you had?"

"I dunno, just put all your fuckin' chips in!" Andee shot back.

"I have more than you," Wash replied with the hint of a haughty tone before he sniffed and nudged forward most of his chips, leaving a few thousand behind. "But whatever, hope you enjoy spectating."

Andee puffed his chest out. "Ha! You can spectate this fuckin' flush, bitch!" he proclaimed as he flipped his pocket cards and threw his arms wide with a cocky grin.

"Hot damn, bat wasn't bluffing for once!" York responded with an admiring grunt.

Andee preened before giving a sour look at the way Samael only half-smiled while adding: "'Cept he ain't made it 'til that river rolled up...an' Miz Wash over there..."

"...Has a full house," Wash finished calmly, turning his own cards over to reveal a King and a Six.

Andee's jaw dropped, the piercing in his nose thumping lightly against his muzzle in his shock. "What...what the..."

"Oh shiiiiiit," York repeated before whooping and slapping Wash's back, making his stupid best friend wheeze and then scowl up at him even as he leaned forward to drag the wealth of chips back toward himself. "Nicely done, little buddy!"

Andee worked his muzzle for a few seconds, disbelief and fury mingling together. "I don't fuckin'..." He spun toward Samael, who only gave him that same small smile, and he gave a flabbergasted shout. "What the fuck?!"

"Shit, I tried to warn ya, hon!"

"You coulda fuckin' said 'hey, bat-butt, the stupid fuckin' squirrel's got a stupid fuckin' full house!!'" Andee complained before groaning and slumping back in his chair as he ran a hand over his face. "Motherfucker!"

He glared past his wing at Wash giving that imperious little smile, and he wasn't sure if he wanted to stab him or ruin the night by bringing up some stupid shit again or just drag Samael away, break up this whole stupid get-together or --

"I'mma buy my li'l fruit-bat back in," Samael announced with a slightly-wider smile. "He ain't duckin' outta tonight that easy."

Andee immediately frowned, glaring daggers at the rebel. "I don't want ya fuckin' charity, Sammy!"

Samael just kept that damnably warm expression as he touched a hand to his own chest in deference. "Would you prefer just demanding it, then?"

The bat screwed up his muzzle but didn't respond right away. This was his redneck, this was his stupid puppy. Didn't matter it was just a 'friendly' poker game, didn't matter they were just using markers, no real cash or goods on the table. He knew Samael would do this in an instant anyway, no matter the circumstance. Selflessly give up whatever he had for Andee's sake, not a damn hesitation or question asked. Well, fine. Would be silly to not take advantage.

"Yeah, it fuckin' would!" Andee grumbled before waving a wing impatiently. "Gimme half them fuckin' chips, Fiffy, now I gotta whoop these mit-zimfoh assholes even harder."

"That's the spirit!" Samael laughed and glanced down before separating about half his bank to nudge over to Andee, who grunted and quickly started to make neat stacks of the chips.

He pretended not to notice the way York gushed and clapped his hands to his cheeks. "Oh my gooosh, Wash, look how cute that is! Awww, tell me that's not the sweetest thing you've ever seen?"

Andee squinted over at Wash as the wiry chupa pulled a face amid reorganizing his own pile of chips. Wash glanced up and then wrinkled his muzzle while replying neutrally: "It's not very...tactical. Now they both have less and are more likely to get knocked out sooner."

"Oh, I'll show ya a fuckin' knock-out," Andee retorted as York chuckled and pushed himself away from the table.

"Kids, kids, play nice," he sang out. "I'm getting everyone more drinks and we're gonna put some jams on because now it's a real game!"

...If nothing else, Andee figured it was hard to argue against that. He muttered under his breath and gestured impatiently for the other two to pass him their cards so he could gather up the whole pile and then dump it unceremoniously in front of York's place. He slumped into his chair and watched Wash continuing to form his orderly stacks of chips before reaching over to the plate of cookies again to grab one and chomp into it.

He blinked and glanced down in surprise before chewing slowly and then looking over to Samael. "Yo, puppy...this ain't no fuckin' chocolate chip, what'd you fuckin' do to these things?"

Samael grinned as he nibbled at more of the pretzels. "Them's my variety cookies! Ain't had enough of any one thing to make a whole batch so...ya got some chocolate chips, some oatmeals, a few peanut-butter-molasses ones, cinnamon-apple-crisps, even a handful of them marshmallow-blueberry ones ya like so much!"

Andee wasted no time jamming the rest of the cookie into his mouth. "Yeah, it'th what I'm eatin' now," Andee blurted around the magical twist of sticky-sweet and tart, hating how this dumb redneck had so many ways to delight him. "God, it'th tho fawkin' good, I don' geddit," Andee mumbled as crumbs spilled out of his muzzle and across his chips while he closed his eyes in delight.

Samael snickered and Andee opened one eye to peer back at him before catching the strange look Wash was giving him...no. No, it wasn't directed at Andee, he was...staring at the cookies? Andee frowned and swallowed the rest of the pastry before smacking his lips loudly. "Whatcha lookin' at, stick-boy? You oglin' at my puppy's goods??"

"I mean, who wouldn't? Even I feel threatened by Sammy's goods sometimes." York called out from the snack table as Samael grinned brightly with an amicable shrug.

Wash rolled his eyes with a groan, but Andee could see the way he was still curiously eyeing the plate. "No, I'm just. I didn't know you could have...apples in a cookie. It seems weird."

"Oh, so ya don't wanna try one?" Andee taunted while picking up the plate and shaking it lightly. When Wash scoffed but leaned forward somewhat, the bat smirked and pulled the plate away with a haughty laugh. "Nah, you said you was too good for them earlier, I wouldn't wanna hurt your delicate sensititties!"

"Sensibilities," Wash muttered while crossing his arms and pushing himself back into his chair. Andee reloaded a new insult but was stopped by the incredulous stare he gave Samael as the rebel reached over to pluck a cookie off the plate, then offer it to Wash with a smile.

"Ay, Fiffy, the fuck?! What'd I tell ya about sharin' all your tasty bits for free??"

.