“I do not like this game,” Relkir grunted as he picked up four cards from the small tower in the middle of the table. “It is all down to luck as to who wins.”
“That’s not true!” Eksi had been waiting to play his last card, and slammed it down a little too hard. “I win!”
Both Litvir and Relkir threw down their own cards in annoyance.
“You won via pure chance!” Relkir grunted some more. “There was no skill, you just happened to have just the right cards whenever you needed them. Do we not have any other games to play, ones that require more than estimations?”
Teekay leaned back in his seat, glancing at the two Rethans, both of them clearly still annoyed about the game’s winner.
“Well, if you want something skilled, we are all out of luck,” Teekay tutted loudly. “It’s not my fault that you three are massive cheaters. Could have had a decent card game or possibly even a board game, but noooo you all decided you preferred to cheat with your telepathy!”
Litvir tutted back at Teekay. “It is convenient how you call us cheaters, but leave yourself out. We all have enhanced senses and telekinisis. I saw you sneaking glances from the deck.”
“You scanned all our cards with your telepathy!” Relkir snapped. “On top of counting cards!”
“You know what?” Eksi interjected. “Maybe we should play something else to pass the time? You are all clearly not having fun. Especially you, ser Relkir.”
Relkir rolled his eyes. “It turns out that I do not like losing, and that makes me overly competitive.”
“No, really?” Eksi teased. “Maybe card games aren’t your tin of tuna?”
Litvir and Relkir both blinked, not quite getting what Eksi meant.
“You know, it’s not your cup of tea. Your mug of beer. You don’t like it that much.”
The phase finally clicked with Relkir, who simply tutted some more. “I do not like these games. They are not fun.”
“Only because you lost!” Eksi happily chirped.”If you had won…”
“No, no, I would still hate these games, even if I had won.”
“Maybe we should take a break…” Teekay suggested. “Maybe some food will settle the mood.”
Relkir shook his head, then sighed. “I apologize, I should not vent my frustration at you all.”
Eksi paused, then scooted up next to Teekay, leaning over him.
“Crickey, where did you find this vok?”
“What do you mean?”
“A Rethan who apologises? Super rare.”
Relkir grunted, very much unamused by Eksi’s statement.
“What do you mean by that?”
“You are a…” Eksi swallowed nervously. “You Rethavok can be quite pompous. And proud… and stuff…”
Relkir grunted some more. “You do realize that I am the former High General of the Rethavok, yes?”
“… Oh.”
Eksi sank back down into his seat, before turning back to Relkir. “So why are you not calling yourself Elkay Thea-whatever the hell your name was?”
“Because he is legally dead,” Teekay calmly explained. “Well, technically, we all are.”
“I’m not dead though!” Eksi gasped. “Why are you dead?”
“We all technically were killed while fighting whatever it was that was trying to kill the universe, then resurrected afterwards,” Teekay carried on explaining. “The majority of those beings had their memories erased and were sent back home. But a handful of us were brought back as deities, for reasons that… well, no one can explain.”
“Oh…” Eksi trailed off, as did everyone else. The small group sat in silence for a moment.
“Hm, maybe we should play something else…” Litvir finally spoke. “Something… more cooperative…”