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“Aw, come on you two,” Trip wheedled. “Pleeeeeeease…”
Malcolm shook his head. “If you want crocheted things for your wedding decorations, we need to actually spend time crocheting them.”
T’Pol nodded her agreement. “I’m happy to watch your game, but I will not allow the best man to do all the work.”
“Fiiiiiiine,” Trip sighed, turning his attention back to the table where Hoshi, Travis, and Phlox were seated.
“Right, the rules are very simple,” Hoshi said. “Numbered cards are worth the number shown. Jack, Queen, and King are worth ten points each, Aces are worth either one or eleven, whichever you prefer. The goal is for your card total to be as close to twenty-one as possible without going over. Twenty-one exactly is called a Blackjack, twenty-two or more is a bust. I’ll deal each person one card, then a second. I’ll then offer you a third card, and you can choose to hit or stay - hit means I give you another, stay means I don’t. We can continue with fourth and additional cards if they’re wanted. Everyone clear?”
Phlox nodded. “Ready when you are, Hoshi.”
Travis and Trip both grinned, nodding eagerly.
Hoshi dealt her first card face down, then one to each of Trip, Travis, and Phlox, with their cards facing up. Her second card was dealt face up, before each of the men received a second.
With a five and seven, Trip tapped the table. “Hit!”
Hoshi dealt a five and he grinned, sitting back in his seat.
Travis glanced at his seven and four, and tapped. “Hit!”
Grinning when Hoshi dealt a six, he gave Trip a nudge with his elbow.
Phlox tapped the table beside his ten and four, and said “hit, please!”
With the Jack of hearts added, Phlox frowned at his cards slightly then said, “I believe that is a bust?”
Hoshi nodded. “Twenty-four is indeed a bust, sorry Phlox.”
“No apologies!” Phlox said with a broad smile. “That is the risk of the game!”
Looking to Trip, she asked, “hit or stay?”
“Nothing ventured nothing gained - hit me!” Trip said.
As Hoshi laid down a four, Trip hollered. “BLACKJACK!!! WOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOO!!!”
Travis laughed and said, “you know what, hit me as well.”
Chuckling quietly with a ten added to his cards, he shrugged. “Ah well, at least I haven’t lost anything but the game.”
Hoshi turned over her initial card, showing a ten to go with the three of her second, and she smiled. “Trip is the clear winner of that round, well done!”
T’Pol paused in her crochet, coming over to give Trip a kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations, taluhk.”
Hoshi smiled at the Vulcan term of endearment as Trip said, “thank you, darlin’! I quite like winning.”
“Another game?” Hoshi asked, when T’Pol resumed her seat and continued to crochet.
“Hell yeah!” Travis said. “I want to see if I can beat Trip this time.”
Smiling, Hoshi said, “technically you aren’t playing against each other, you’re all playing against me as the dealer.”
“Blah, quibbles, just deal!” Trip said, grinning.
“I would also like to try again,” Phlox said, smiling.
Hoshi nodded, expertly shuffling the cards before quickly dealing to each as she had the first time.
Chuckling at his four and Ace, Trip tapped, grinning as he said, “hit me!”
Hoshi dealt an eight and he smiled. “That Ace is a one this time!”
Grinning hugely at his Queen and ten, Travis said, “I’m staying this time!”
Phlox smiled at Travis then glanced back at Hoshi. “With a five and a four, I’d like to hit, please.”
Another four brought him level with Trip, and the two shared a grin.
“Hit me again, but not too hard!” Trip said.
He pumped his fist and hissed “yes!” as Hoshi placed a two with his other cards.
“I’m still staying!” Travis said with a grin.
“I shall take one more chance on a hit, thank you,” Phlox said, then grimaced as Hoshi dealt a ten. “Alas, outdone by the cards again,” he said cheerfully.
Turning over her first card, Hoshi revealed an eight to pair with her seven, and she smiled, dealing herself a third card.
With a five, she smiled at Travis. “We draw, this round.”
Travis did an excited little dance in his seat then asked, “one more?”
“Sure, I’m good for a bit longer,” Hoshi said.
Phlox nodded, and Trip looked over to see how T’Pol and Malcolm were going.
Glancing up, T’Pol nodded. “We’re making good progress. You can continue if you’d like.”
“Keep dealing for a bit longer, my love,” Malcolm said softly. “I want to finish the star I’m working on.”
“Alright! One more round,” Hoshi said, shuffling the cards again.
Laughing as Hoshi dealt him first a two then an Ace, Trip said, “hit!” as soon as Hoshi glanced his way.
“Oooo, that Ace is a one again!” he said as Hoshi placed a King on the table.
With a ten and eight, Travis folded his arms and smiled. “Staying again this round, thanks Hoshi.”
Having only a pair of threes, Phlox smiled and tapped the table. “Hit, please.”
A nine made the doctor smile. “I can work with that,” he said with a little nod.
“Trip?” Hoshi asked.
“Hit!” he answered with a grin.
Laughing as Hoshi dealt a three, Trip jiggled in his seat. “Still in the game!”
Travis smiled. “Still staying!” he said quietly.
“Hmmm… fifteen so far, I need six or lower…” Phlox mused. “Oh, why not, hit again please.”
Everyone groaned as Hoshi dealt a seven.
“Aw, that’s rotten luck!” Trip said. “I’m going to try mine and see what happens. Hit!”
With a two placed on the table, Trip grinned. “Eighteen, same as Travis! Turn yours over, Hoshi!”
Doing so, she revealed a two with her four, and both men danced in their seats. “Awwwww yeah, we both beat you!” Trip crowed.
“Not so fast there, boys, I’m not done yet,” Hoshi smirked.
Adding an eight, she considered, then dealt a final card. Grinning when she revealed a five, she said, “nineteen beats eighteen. Better luck next time.”
Trip and Travis groaned, while Phlox smiled. “Thank you for a most entertaining game. Though I do of course wish I’d won a round, that was a pleasant way to spend a little time together.”
“You’re very welcome! I had fun too,” Hoshi said, smiling as she packed the cards away.
“How go the stars?” Travis asked.
Malcolm held up the decoration he’d just completed in silver yarn, and smiled. “It goes quite well, I think. With a load of these strung up around the place, the mess hall will look quite lovely, I think.”
T’Pol nodded. “We have a great deal more to make, but there is ample time yet.”
“That reminds me, I gotta organise the twinkle lights these are going to fit over,” Trip said. “It’s gonna be so pretty, just like my bride.”
Giving a very small smile, T’Pol stood, coming around to give Trip another kiss on the cheek. “I’m sure you will look lovely also.”
Winking, Trip said, “no Hawaiian shirts then?”
A chorus of “NO!” sounded, and he laughed before kissing T’Pol’s cheek.