Definite Reservations

Claire rips into another hard rock classic, Paradise City. You can’t help but sing along quietly, “Take me down to the Paradise City where the grass is green and the girls are pretty.” Yeah, that about sums up what’s happening you think. And you know what’s coming.

“Let’s see who is making a power play for the Ladies of our own Paradise City deck,” says Rhett. “And given neither Cassie nor Milo have a hand that can be attacked right now and will want to score the most points they can before the end of the fourth and last regular cycle, you can BET they’ll go all in…”

He turns to face them. “So, which of you kinksters wants to get freaky for some points first?”

“I’ll play a free reserve, Rhett,” says Cassie. “Ace of Hearts, the Dean of Humanities, Dr. Aiyana Sinclair.”

The dean’s card flies onto the screen, showing her to the rest of the room alongside the others selected so far.

“A strong choice,” says Rhett. “That’s your third Ace. If you can successfully challenge them all then even without the fourth, you’ve for a valuable hand. If you can make it a full house that could be the winning play.”

It’s true. She already has a good lead over you. Aces are worth a base of 100 points each, which gets multiplied by the value of whatever challenge, and then by the value of the hand type she completes. Almost any Aces hand will make her almost impossible to catch.

“But what about you, Mi… sorry. What about you, Selene. Do you intend to make a play too?”

Of course she does. It’s clear to you that if she’s building the flush then this is the perfect time to use her free reserve to capture another of the necessary cards. It’s predictable, obvious.

“Quadruple or Nothing, Rhett,” says Dr. Ravensmoor.

Your eyes shoot in her direction before your mind can even catch up. It’s a bold play. It could cost her everything and it stops her getting the third card she wants already. But if she can make it…

“Roll the die, Dr. Ravensmore,” says Rhett, licking his lips in delight. “Just make sure to avoid a five or worse yet a six.”

Selene’s hand flicks over Milo’s tablet. A golden die rolls across the screen, coming up with a 2.

“A 2 is a success,” says Rhett.

The scoreboard appears once more. Milo’s score quadruples. His name shoots to the top as he is now shown with 76032 and leaves your 34070 a distant last. Milo seems to be panting in relief, perhaps wondering whether he’d have been punished if she failed.

“And THAT is how you take control,” says Rhett. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And that only leaves us with Mr. Impossible. Would you like to use a power play yourself?”

You’re about to say no when it hits you. This is your opportunity to take Rebekah off the board by using the game rules. It should be justifiable to her because if you fail to score with the Eight, then you will need her card to close out a four of a kind with Sixes. And as long as you succeed in a challenge or hold her, she’ll be unable to be chosen by anyone else until at least the end of the present cycle.

“Free Reserve the Six of Clubs, Rebekah Flores,” you state delightedly.

Rebekah's card appears on the board.

Rhett chuckles. “Strategic or Jealous, Phantom? Well, either way, she’s yours. And with that, Pervs and Pervettes, let’s get this week underway!”