Part 333: Miriel A

Dear me, Gaius. You look very low today.

If you're here to gloat, get on with it and then leave me alone. I'm out of tricks, Specs. I got nothing. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Ix-nay. I don't even have anymore sweets to wager.

Truly? You are completely out? I'd thought you to have a secret stash.

Raided it last night. Cleaned it out in an eyeblink, I did. I've never been this long without sugar! I think I'm having heart palpitations.

You misunderstand. I was speaking not of sweets, but of card tricks.

Oh. Well, you bled me dry on those, too.

Interesting. Perhaps then you could think up some new ones.

Oh, yeah, sure. I'll just reach down and pull'em out of my... Look, why are you so interested in my card tricks, anyway? It's not like I ever manage to fool you.

It is a difficult reason to put into words, but I shall attempt it. I found our competition to be stimulating. Almost thrilling, in point of fact. My senses were heightened like never before. It was a truly zesty experience!

Oh? You seemed pretty bored to me.

I assure you, I was not. Your enthusiasm for the game was quite infectious.My skin tingled, my heart raced, and I noted a dozen other signs of excitement besides.

So there IS a bit of passion behind that logical exterior of yours.

That would be fair proposition, yes.

Oh, yeah. That passion just comes shining through... Tell you what, Specs... If you like playing that much, I'll try to conjure up some more tricks. All right?

I may just have a couple of ideas...