C.R.D: chapter 1

The bartender’s emotions were reflected more by how he polished the glass than the were by his face. What was once an intensely focused polishing slowly dwindled into a task long forgotten. He glanced around the room before pointing. “Roff. He’s the best of the offlines right now.”

“Thank you.” Wish stated as Zen tipped him.

“Miss.” Wish and Zen stopped and turned around. “They really let you keep that?” The bartender gestured at to the tattoo across Wish’s left shoulder.

“Believe it or not. Zen, here, was the only one.” Wish stated. “It probably the one thing I don’t understand ‘bout him.”

“I really rather tired of explaining it.” Zen stated. “Just because-” the bartender raised a hand to stop him.

“I like the Break-Bonds.” He stated polishing his glass again. “I’ll save a couple of rooms.”

Zen looked over the menu “A slog cog. Keep the change.” Zen stated. “My policy.” The bartender nodded, and Zen bought the drink over as Wish started the questioning.

“This is your friend?” The male looked about Wish’s age, and rather calm give what he must have been told.

“Mister Roffguard a man may have just sent his mind into the Augment.” Wish recapped. “You’re calmness is….”

“Alarming? Well first I don’t think there’s a ‘may’ about it. ” ‘Roff’ stated. “Now how the good doctor figured that out is beyond me, but Bort Ruribind… well, he’s somewhere.”

“There may be some clues within the walls” Wish asked. “Could you take me?”

“The walls” Roff stated. “Man I haven’t been in the walls in years…”

“Years?” Zen restated. “You were kicked out?”

Roff looked confused. “What? No I left like 2 days ago. You wanna go, right now?”

“You need to… do that thing you do?” Wish sighed but nodded. “Why don’t you go then? Seems like I can handle the bar.” Roffguard left with Wish for the walls, and Zen, did what he did best, joined a game of poker. “Typical crowd?”

“No such thing ‘round here.” one player answered back. “People stay a few days at most…. Fold.”

Zen threw in some chips. “Raise… Make sense in place like this people probably don’t stay long. Researchers maybe. Doctors and the like.” 

“The doctors don’t played.” Another player stated. “Only fold.”  As she and Zen tossed some money in. 

“Call.” Zen stated before placing down four of a kind before collecting what little winnings he was due. “Good information deserves a good game at least.” He looked over his hand. “Fold.”

“Raise.” The first player stated.  “Who you look for?”

“Ruribind.” Zen stated watching the others play through the round. “He...Disappeared.”

“Raise.” The female of the group stated as the others threw their money in. “He always said to ‘find the panda if that happened.’”

“Raise.” Zen stated. “He came often?” Shifting a few cards around as others threw their money in.

“Call.” The third player stated before throwing down four kings. A good hand, but not as good as the straight flush Zen had.”I agree with Roff. Ruribind is alive.”

“Your sure?” Zen stated before looking over his hand again. “Raise”

“Too careful.” the first player stated throwing his money in. “He live. Just need panda… whenever panda be… Call.”

“Right then.” Zen stated as he was shuffled another hand. “Let’s hear about this panda.”