Cards, Ale, Corporals, & The Cadet {Magic Trio}

[Deleted]

The cards flowed smoothly between his hands, like magic, before he cut the deck, shuffled, and deck out his and his companion’s hands. The night was calm, it was after dusk, and a lantern illuminated the two men at the table. They were in the Corporal’s quarters of the Scouting Legion Headquarters, sectioned off from the general public and cadets, so it was quiet. Finishing dealing out the cards and setting up the game, Lukas looked up at his companion and he supposed by distinction friend, for they had been Corporals in the Scouting Legion together for a few years now. Arthur Kirkland was his name, with his blonde hair and green hair. It had become customary for them to get together, typically with Erwin, Levi, and the other officers, to have a game of cards and drink some ale but tonight, it looked as if it was just the two men.

Taking his tankard and having a sip, Lukas licked his lips and sat back in his chair, looking at his cards. Adjusting his hand, he looked up at Arthur and gestured with his head, signalling that since he dealt it was the other man’s move. His eyes glanced back to his cards and his normal indifferent and stoic expression proved to be an excellent for these get-togethers, nothing fazed him. “It’s a shame the others were called away to Sina,” he said idly, planning his strategy and making small talk because it was the typical thing to do. Lukas didn’t mind this man’s company as he did with some others, like rambunctious first-years.

Watching Arthur, taking another sip, a knock on the door directed his gaze towards it and his brow rose in question. Putting down his tankard, he blinked and glanced at Arthur, expecting him to get it since he was closest.


(Sorry for the shortness and lame title haha)

[Arthur Kirkland]

The night certainly was calm, which was an unexpected pleasure, given how animated the headquarters had the capacity to be. As with most others, the demanding schedules did far more to occupy Arthur’s thoughts than the calm moments between or even these get-togethers with the other corporals and officers. Although he enjoyed them for the most part, this night he felt the distraction more strongly for no particular reason. At least for any reason that he could decipher. Perhaps it was simply the fact that there was currently only the two of them in the Corporal’s quarters tonight while the others had been called away or even the almost expectant calmness of the evening.

Even with the notable absences, as Lukas and himself were the only voices of authority left behind for practical purposes, the get-together inadvertently continued. As much as he appreciated the man, Lukas Bondevik was an individual Arthur felt he knew surprising little despite the years they’d worked together and the scant information that had been shared. Arthur couldn’t find fault in that; however, for he had only been forthright with necessary details from his own background. For how Lukas performed and handled himself, there was a level of earned respect. For Arthur, that was usually sufficient.

As a party of two, they started what might have been a quiet night. As Lukas shuffled and doled out their hands, Arthur tried to focus more on what they were doing and less on the unfixed distraction clouding his thoughts. The ale certainly wasn’t top notch, but at least it was something. A good portion of his own had already been consumed. As soon as Lukas finished dealing and they had a chance to look at their hands, Arthur made the first move. His gaze returned to Lukas when he spoke, noting that he was expressionless as ever, devastatingly useful for this game.

“It’s a shame the others were called away to Sina.”

“It is, though I can’t say I wish to be in their stead,” he replied as his eyes lowered to his hand. Just as the game was underway, there was a knock at the door. Eyes lingering just a moment longer on the hand he’d been dealt, Arthur pressed it face down on the table before standing, the sound of his chair moving against the floor reverberating. Unlatching the door, Arthur pulled it open to reveal the individual. “Yes?” he spoke just before his eyes rested on the other’s recognisable features.

[It's all good. Sorry mine took so long.]

[Mihai Ionescu]

You could always trust the squad’s goddamned Captain to have Mihai do all the bloody, stupidly boring work. Always. So when the Romanian found himself heading towards the meeting room for the constantly stuck up, high and mighty corporals, one could guess his mood wasn’t the best it could have been.

Mihai wasn’t one to stay grumpy for too long, so instead he simply kicked all the pebbles he could find in his way and stalled the best he could before actually making it to the board room and simply hand over the Captain’s note. He would stall on his way back too, and possibly blame the Corporals for keeping him. Good plan? Good plan.

Eventually, and unfortunately, he did find himself standing on the Meeting Room’s doorstep. With a sigh, he knocked. Before anyone replied, Mihai at least made the effort to straighten his posture and stand like the proud soldier he should be.

Yes? Said the man, who Mihai promptly recognized. Weird hair, check. Unimpressive, check. Biggest eyebrows ever? Check. Not that the Romanian had ever been this close to Corporal Kirkland’s face, but rumors had the annoying tendecy to go around. Maybe Mihai stared for a moment, but it did take a couple of seconds to take in the sight.

He raised an arm to show the letter, casually peeking above Arthur’s shoulders. It didn’t take him too long to spot the other blond in the room, fixing some cards in his hand.

“Message for Corporal Bondevik, is he— What are you guys playing?”
Sometimes he really wished he was a higher up, so he could play and drink all day, too.

[Deleted]

Lukas seemingly busied himself with arranging his cards further; laying down a card in response to Arthur’s, but his attention was completely on Arthur who was answering the door. It was not common for the Officer’s quarters to be disturbed unless it was an emergency or message, and idly observing the other blonde greet the person at the door, Lukas’ cold stare met briefly with the peeking eyes of the individual; the Corporal didn’t even blink in response when the cadet mentioned his name, however the man’s curiosity of their game did rouse him to stand suddenly and gracefully come to stand beside Arthur.


“Thank you,” he said curtly, taking the message, eyes still on the other with his typical expression of stoic indifference. The man, Mihai Ionescu, according to the Corporal’s memory, was slightly older than himself but as still a cadet who was commendable in the areas of agility and intellect, but lacked in being able to work with his comrades and was noted for his cheerfulness. Facing him now, undaunted by the man’s unusual shade of irises, reddish in the hall’s candlelight. His gaze flickered down to the message in his hand, a brow twitching in interest, before he glanced at Arthur before looking back at their cadet. “Arthur. Would you not agree than a third would work better than us alone?” He inquired bluntly, his eyes never faltering from Mihai’s. While Lukas didn’t personally agree with the cadet’s lack of professionalism by bluntly asking the of their game, for the blonde was fairly sure that there was about three going on down in the common area amongst the other cadets, but seeing as he and Arthur could very well use a third, Lukas saw no reason why he should not inquire of the other Corporal would mind having the messenger join, at least for a round.

Leaving Arthur to decide for them both, because Lukas truly did not care either way, the officer sidestepped away from the pair of men, finally breaking eye contact with the cadet, unfurled his message and read it in silence. Silently, he tucked the message into his pocket, the note wasn’t pressing and he could finish their game before he should truly reply to it. Leaning back against the doorframe, resolved and waiting for his fellow officer to decide, the blonde idly began to clean his nails, thoughtfully, because he was actually on his night off so presenting a stiff, commanding presence was not on his list of priorities. If Mihai wanted to join, than sure, if Arthur wanted him to. 

[Arthur Kirkland]

The door opened to reveal a cadet, one that Arthur only vaguely recognised among the many others. There wasn’t necessarily anything remarkable about him, so there was nothing to truly remember him by, at least from his perspective at this moment. The man raised a letter as he managed to peek around Arthur to peer about the room. Arthur only gave him a slightly raised brow at the candid motion. He heard Lukas getting up from where he sat to stand next to him before taking the message. As per usual, the corporal revealed nothing with his expression as took it. As much as he was able to keep the curiosity at bay, the hint of it was still present regarding the message.

”Yes, of course,” Arthur agreed, his voice not showing too much favour with regard to a third player, though the idea was in no way disagreeable either. Certainly, they were used to games that consisted of more than just the two of them. His eyes wandered from Lukas to Mihai, glancing over the cadet briefly. ”If your curiosity also includes interest, then have a seat,” he spoke with a well-hidden hint of a good-natured challenge, for he so did enjoy one whenever the opportunity presented itself. As Arthur had yet to know a bit more about Mihai beyond the mundane details that accompanied any other cadet, then he had yet to either be intrigued or disappointed.

Arthur turned to make his way back where he’d been seated before the interruption. Like the other corporal, there was a slight ease to his movements that was only an accompaniment whenever they weren't otherwise required to attend to their duties. Though, it's inevitable that a part of his arduousness would probably always remain. His shoulder rested comfortably against the left side of the back of the chair, waiting for Mihai’s response before continuing.

[Mihai Ionescu]

And just like that, Mihai had been invited to play cards with the big corporals of the Scouting Legion. It was flattering, at least. But most important of all, it was really the fact that he had just been officially excused from the day’s practice. It was like a Christmas coming early situation, so the boy grinned brightly as he hopped inside the room. If only the two corporals weren’t so formal. “Definitely interested, sir!”

Once inside, he could finally take a better look at Bondevik’s face. Sharp features, pale skin and paler hair, and eyes that didn’t seem too excited to have a cadet butting around his quiet time. It didn’t really matter to Mihai, since Bondevik did mention needing a third player. Maybe the Romanian had been a little nosy with the higher ups, thinking back for two seconds, but it’s not like he had been reprimanded for it. Kirkland’s tone didn’t sound terribly excited for his company, either, but Mihai wasn’t about to overthink his welcome, even if pushing his luck on it.

Mihai picked the empty chair between his superiors, always watching the two. Were they honestly that serious? They seemed more relaxed than Mihai’s ever witnessed any corporals, but then again he’s never been in close company to one while they weren’t out of the Walls on some mission.

Oddly enough, he didn’t hear what they were playing (or betting) yet. The darker haired man smiled, looking friendly. “So, which game are we playing?”

[Deleted]

Lukas’ eyes flickered from his nails to Arthur then back again, and so there were three it seemed. Having the luxury of being able to sit down and play a game was positively under appreciated, what with the fact that the human race was on the brink of extinction and all that. Inspecting his already pristine nails, cut short and tidy, the Corporal reached up to sweep back his bangs, watch his fellow officer interact with the cadet. Arthur’s stiff posture was the norm, but Lukas could tell at least that perhaps the other was not as comfortable with a third then what he let on, but that was his problem; if he hadn’t wished for the cadet to join, he should have said so. The cadet, or Mihai Lukas guessed he should refer him as, was all too eager to accept, grinning like a child, and acting as so.

Interesting. Maybe the cadet’s nature would rub against Arthurs, setting off the blond, which would be even more entertaining then the game.

Following with only his eyes, Lukas watched the pair of men sit at the table, though he noticed how Mihai’s glances remained upon him; Lukas returned the looks strongly with his own unwavering gaze. Sure, let the cadet look let him get a personal look to see if the stories about the Bondevik Corporal held merit. With the other men seated, leaving Lukas to ease off the doorframe at his own leisure to firmly close the door. Gracefully, he retook his on seat, sat back into a relaxed position, and reclaimed his cards, all the while his natural stoic expression dominating his features. Reaching forward, Lukas dealt Mihai a quick hand, the cards flying into a somewhat tidy pile in front of the other man like a professional dealer. “Poker,” he said, replacing the deck, also distributing to Mihai his amount of chips, before picking his hand back up to continue his strategy, altering it now that there were more players. He did not inquire if the cadet knew how to play, because he was not concerned about it; he had wanted to play and it was his own folly if he entered without asking.

“Arthur,” Lukas inclined, confirming that since he dealt, his fellow blond has first bet.

~~
Note: I'll admit, I don't really know how to play poker but I just chose the most basic card game I could think of. We can just bs through the game, focusing on the trio xD