Spend time with Vaarvel and learn about her hobbies (Time -1)

As mysterious as Vaarvel was, it only made sense for you to hope to unravel some of that mystery by getting to know her on a personal level. That would be much easier if you broached some of the easy topics that coworkers tended to talk about all the time, including her hobbies. As you knocked upon her personal room at the back of her office, you thought about how you might broach the issue with your older coworker in a way that wouldn't make you look like a greenhorn...

The lady surprised you once again by appearing behind you, tapping her gloved hands upon your shoulder to get your attention. You spun around to see her grin shining out of the darkness of her slit, silver mask. "Mister Speck! I was just looking for you!" Her voice had a laughter to it that made you think she really enjoyed these moments, hiding in the disguise racks of her own room to pop out and surprise you when you least expected it. But... she couldn't do that all the time, right? How did she know when you were coming?

A question for later, maybe. You didn't think you could trust her answer. Instead, you asked her a more innocuous question, one she had no reason to lie about: what were her hobbies?

Vaarvel looked surprised for a moment, then crossed her arms and regained her usual smirk. "Hm hm... As a professional deceiver, most of my hobbies are ones I've cultivated to help me with different disguises. I barely remember which ones I actually enjoy any more. However..." The woman paused, tapping her finger up and down upon her bicep. "Hmmm... If I had to name a few... I'd say playing cards. It's an excellent way to learn a person, you know... Playing cards with them." Her eyes seemed to form into mischevious crescents inside her mask as her grin grew wider. {if Vaarvel's History = 1}You suddenly remembered the deck of playing cards you'd purchased for her as a souvenir in Europe...{endif} {if Weakness for Gambling = 1}Your gambler's blood was boiling.{endif}

You asked if she wanted to play right now.

"Well, that is my hobby, isn't it?"

The game proceeded in brutal fashion. You didn't think it was possible for a person to dominate so completely at a game of luck. Playing cards with Vaarvel was like being stuck on a roller-coaster blindfolded; the drops you knew were coming, you couldn't prepare for, while the fast paced portions seemed endless. It was exhilarating, but also, seemed to inch you closer to a form of madness, losing all sense of self respect in your card playing abilities and your ability to read people.

"Ha ha ha ha! Your first request ought to have been that I take my mask off, Nathaniel. But I thank you for humoring me."

You nodded, now barely capable of stopping yourself from collapsing your head onto the card table in weary exhaustion. Instead, you asked if she'd humor you by telling you a few other hobbies.

"I couldn't say... There are a few things you could call hobbies, but they're all preparation for different roles. I'd say... dancing... magic tricks? Sewing... Yes, those are my favorites. Flirting with men like yourself is another hobby of mine. Do you think I'm any good at it?"

... Her voice was full of confidence, but you really did wonder about that. The woman acted so superior and cocky, you imagined a lot of people were driven off by that. Still, you thought she appreciated those who could attempt to hang with her. Feeling you'd learned all you could handle right now, you politely excused yourself and decided to flee, before she put you in a box and started sawing you in half...