middaeg | (open | february log)

[ Waver's face screws up in a scowl that turns more and more pout-like the longer he listens to Ozymandias prattle on.

He huffs, exaggerated and noisy, and takes another swig before checking his cards again, rearranging some, and looking back up to see Ozymandias is still, in fact, talking. What is he even saying? ]

Yeah, yeah... shoot the sun.

[ Or something like that. He rolls his eyes. ]

With Rider, we usually just bet for trousers... [ he mutters, messing with his cards again restlessly. ] But fine. If you don't want to bet on anything actually useful to me, here's a new wager.

If I win, you have to be quiet for a whole hour-- No talking, no showboating, none of that. Bet you can't do it.

[Ozymandias raises his eyebrows in mild offense. At which part is anyone's guess, but he will choose to attribute this to Waver's drinking. He doesn't appear to do all that well at holding his liquor. So, it's only mild offense and thus, keeps Ozymandias' mood from being spoiled.]

Very well. [Ozymandias picks up his hand once more, using his thumb to fan his cards back out again.] But when I win, you shall do as I command for an hour, just as though you were my own vassal.

[He looks up at Waver over the edge of his cards.]

No complaints, no whining. I shall expect complete obedience to my will.

Huh?!

[ Waver stares at him, lips pursed in a scowl. He peeks down at his cards again, then up over the top of them in echo of Ozymandias, brows furrowed as he considers this. His free hand jabs a pointer finger in Ozymandias's direction. ]

Just don't expect me to go swearing any oaths to you. Got it?

[ He seems pretty confident he'll win, though, considering that he doesn't actually argue or think to set other parameters. Well, he might if it actually gets to that point, but right now, the hesitation is overcome by his pride. He hadn't actually expected Ozymandias to agree since his own bet had been frivolous and not entirely serious, but now that he's been called on that -- which is what Waver assumes this is -- he's too proud to back down. So be it. ]

I agree to the conditions, but don't go thinking I'd do anything against what I've already sworn.

[ You're not my real king!! ]

[Ozymandias chuckles as he gets Waver's agreement to the deal. Honestly, Ozymandias half-expects him to find some means of worming his way out of the wager if he ends up losing, but that's fine. Ozymandias clearly has no problem cashing in later if the need arises. It's not like he hasn't done it once before.]

[Ozymandias sets aside his wine glass.]

Do not think so little of me, Waver. I would not do something like that to Iskandar. Although it is perhaps a bit of a stretch to call him a pharaoh, he is still technically by rights. What sort of example would I be to him and others as the King of Kings if I were to do something so low?

[He also quite frankly wouldn't do something like that to Waver either. That would be a cruel thing to do.]

[Ozymandias plays the first card.]

I know, I know...

[ If Waver really thought that Ozymandias would take advantage, he wouldn't have agreed, even drunk. Of course, he's only reiterating it because he feels he should; agreeing without even bringing it up seems disrespectful, but it's not like he's betting on more than just a game of who tells whom what to do for an hour. Waver trusts Ozymandias's honor -- both as pharaoh and as friend.

He puts down his own card quickly, assuredly. Terrible poker face. ]

But he is too a pharaoh. I won't let you make light of my king's achievements, you know!

[ Waver goes to reach for his wine, finds his cup empty, and lifts it for a refill. ]

[Gods, Ozymandias needs to remember that any time he needs to wager something with a little more weight behind it than this more playful one, he needs to get Waver tanked first. He can't mask his reactions worth a damn right now.]

I am not making light! [Ozymandias draws from the deck and then discards.] I would not deny that he was successful in defeating Egypt. Nor would I claim that he somehow failed to establish his own dynasty as part of the line of pharaohs.

[He neatly folds his hand again to pick up the wine bottle. Leaning towards Waver, he uncorks the bottle and refills his glass.]

As someone who also sought glory in battle and was raised a soldier before even as a prince of Egypt, I have nothing but admiration for his campaigns and conquests. There is also something undeniably charismatic about him as well. But he is a conqueror first and foremost, Waver. He did not stay to rule over Egypt as those who came after him did.

[And that is simply not enough to acknowledge him as a true pharaoh in Ozymandias' eyes. It does not detract from his glorious victories nor makes him a poor leader, but it does make it a little more difficult to fully accept him as a pharaoh compared to others.]

[Ozymandias sits back, re-corking the bottle.]

Hmph...

[ Makes sense, more or less. But also! it's the principle of the thing!! ]

Hand that bad, huh?

[ Waver watches him, glancing back at his own cards, but does not discard anything, only draws for the one he played, looking smug. ]

Maybe.

[Ozymandias picks his hand back up after placing the bottle back. He smiles, tipping his head slightly.]

Or maybe that is what I want you to think so you get too confident and make mistakes.

[It could probably almost count as cheating playing this kind of mind game with Waver just after giving him more alcohol. Almost.]

Yeahhh?

Well... Maybe that's what I want you to think!

[ Waver rifles through his cards, rearranging them and plucking two to slap down between them with a flourish that sends his wine sloshing over his wrist. ]

Oh. Oops...

[ Quick, before it gets on the cards! Waver drops them face-down in his lap and licks off his wrist, tugging his sleeve up so it won't get dirty. Crisis averted. ]

[Ozymandias raises an eyebrow as Waver struggles with managing his drink and hand effectively. Before looking over his hand, he makes a small suggestion.]

Perhaps you ought to set your cup down unless you intend to drink from it...

[Don't waste his wine, Waver!!!]

[He plays only one card, much calmer than Waver. But that calm response definitely lends itself to a confidence that Waver will not be able to last long if he's playing so much gusto.]

Yeah, yeah...

[ Waver mumbles, licking the rest off his hand and then taking a proper sip before gingerly setting the cup down near the snacks. ]

I didn't get it on anything...

[ He looks back around blearily, checking what Ozymandias has played before looking at his own cards again. Hm.

A little more calmly -- or at least more quietly, embarrassed by his near-spill and cheeks flushed with self-consciousness and booze -- Waver plays his turn. He still feels pretty confident, though! ]

[Waver embarrasses so easily. He's not at all convincing in his casual attempts at brushing off being called out for his clumsiness, but there is something charming about it all the same. Ozymandias watches him regain his composure to the best of his ability and take his turn.]

You seem to be taking this quite seriously, [Ozymandias observes as he considers his next move.]

Oh, no, sir.

[ Waver can't keep a straight face after all. His lips (and ears) twitch, the embarrassment fading as quickly as it came in the wake of his smugness over how pleased he was with the hand of cards he was able to play.

He peers over at Ozymandias through his lashes, managing not to outright smile, but only barely. ]

I wouldn't dare take a game with a king in any way that could be construed as unseriously.

[He pauses for a moment, looking up from his hand with a raised eyebrow.]

You are full of it, Waver Velvet...

[Ozymandias shakes his head a little, but his smile is one of amusement. As much of a stick in the mud as Waver tends to be sober, it seems he is equally a fool with enough wine in him. Perhaps "charming" is the incorrect word and endearing is more accurate.]

[Ozymandias plays a series of cards from his hand and sits back.]

[ Waver grins like a buffoon, absolutely unapologetic over his joke. Or whatever it was supposed to be.

That grin, however... slides right off his face when he flips Ozymandias's cards for the round, then his. ]

...hey.

[ Waver's head snaps up, mouth half-open with disbelief, his tone an accusatory whine. ]

How the hell'd you manage that?

[Ozymandias merely laughs at Waver's upset and whining.]

You find it impossible that I might be skilled at a game I taught you to play?

It's not that! I just--

[ He stares down at the cards again, taken aback. But he'd had such a good hand! The chances had been so good for him to win, and the chances that Ozymandias had something better at the end were so low! This is ridiculous this can't be legal call the police!! ]

You just got lucky. Hmph.

[ So much for accepting defeat gracefully...

Waver stares at the remaining two cards in his hand. There's no coming back from this with what's left.

With a sigh, he throws them down. ]

[As Waver tries to process what just happened and how it just happened, Ozymandias picks up his glass of wine and has another sip. His smile at this point in time could quite easily be categorized as a shit-eating grin.]

At least you have the good sense to know when to surrender, [he says as Waver tosses his remaining cards.] I'd hate to drag this out longer for your sake.

But don't you think you're being a bit of a sore loser?

[All this rude talk of Ozymandias only winning because of luck! How dare?]

I am not. You're just gloating unnecessarily to be mean to me!

[ Waver shoots back, unconvincing and red in the face. ]

Fiiine. You win! There, I said it -- is that what you wanted?

[ And he... actually... sticks his tongue out......

never give him booze ever again. ]

Edited 2020-04-13 23:53 (UTC)

[It is perhaps a bit of a mean thing to laugh at Waver claiming that Ozymandias is gloating, but Ozymandias does not hesitate in his laughter. His laughter only increases as Waver sticks out his tongue like the mature adult that he is. If only Waver could be this authentic even when sober! How entertaining things would be!]

Stick that out at me again and I shall relieve you of it, [he warns, not an ounce of seriousness behind it. He gestures with a wave of his hand.] Come here.

No, you won't!

[ Waver shoots back immediately, pointing out the obvious with the sort of confidence only a very drunk man can achieve.

But, after a moment, he scoots over. Finding the cards in the way, Waver pushes them aside now that their formation doesn't matter, creating himself a shortcut because he can't be bothered to go around. ]

See?

[ And he sticks his tongue out again around a smirk. ]

[Ozymandias does not hesitate to grab Waver's tongue directly between his forefinger and thumb once he's made the decision to stick it out at Ozymandias again. He did warn him that he would lose it.]

Oh ho! I do not take you to be a fool, Waver. You would not dare test my word or patience. So, I can only assume that you are offering this willingly to Pharaoh to do with as he pleases.

Hwaah?!

[ WELL SHIT. Ozymandias has spectacularly called -- and caught -- his bluff, hasn't he?

Waver's eyes go wide in shock, finding himself suddenly thus captured, in a way he'd foolishly assumed completely improbable and difficult to achieve. He hadn't expected Ozymandias's reflexes to be so good! ...though considering his own impaired reflexes and even more impaired judgement, anyone else could have easily told him that'd be the case. ]

'et gghow...!

[ Waver whines, though he doesn't try to pull back or push Ozymandias off of him -- probably because his last attempt at bravado ended up like this. Or... something like that. Maybe he's just not that inclined to fight against a turn of events that suddenly have his fuzzy thoughts grinding to an even more stark halt as something in the back of his lizard (dog?) brain takes stock of this situation in an entirely different light. One that has him hyper-aware of Ozymandias's taste and scent suddenly, tongue twitching against his fingers.

Instead, he's taken to making sad noises and big puppy eyes at Ozymandias, damp breath spilling across his hand. ]

Haaah...

Edited 2020-05-06 01:12 (UTC)

What's this? An attempt at an appeal? Ha! [Ozymandias does not make this more uncomfortable for Waver at the very least, but neither is he particularly swayed by Waver's sad eyes. He would not be much of a king if he were so easily persuaded into mercy.] I told you what the consequences would be, did I not?

[With his free hand, he picks up his wine glass once more and takes a sip.]

But I shall be fair. Promise me better behavior than this, and I might consider releasing you.

[ Well, now he's just being mean. Waver's whining rises in pitch, annoyed, and instead of making promises (how can he, anyway??) he tries to gnaw (gently) on Ozymandias's fingers.

Meanwhile, he seems to have remembered he has hands. One of them finally grabs the pharaoh's wrist, brows furrowing into a scowl. ]

(open | february log)

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