fandomhigh | Game of Chance, Monday

First class was in a normal classroom, with Atton sitting behind the front desk, looking relaxed. He had several packs of cards sitting in front of him on the desk, and he motioned for every other student to grab one as they came in.

"Welcome to Game of Chance," he said, "Which you can think of as a mathematics class about probability if your parents ever ask. In this class, we talk about odds, taking chances, when it's better to nope out, and when it's better to up your bets. Some of you are probably here because your lives can be dangerous and you want to know how to field bad situations better, some of you are probably here because it looked like fun, and maybe one of you actually thought this was a math class."

Was there someone like that in class? Because he'd like to know.

"What we'll also be doing is covering actual games of chance," he said. "Not because I want you all to rack up enormous gambling bets, but because it can teach you about risk and reward - and when you hit the point where you take on too much risk for too little reward. Trust me, we all have a point like that. So, to get us started, let's skip introductions."

Because eh.

"I want you to read the for Go Fish on the back of the cards you just got. Then you grab a partner who doesn't have any cards, share the rules, and play. You'll find four chips on your desks; you have to put in a bet on your odds of winning at the start of every round, right after you look at your cards. I want you to play three rounds. At the end of the class, you get as many chocolate bars as you have chips. I think that about covers it. Get started."

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Faith had cards and she already knew the game, but she hadn't played in a while. She scanned the room for someone to play with, wondering all the while if it was just her or if it was totally weird that they were taking a gambling class in high school.

"I haven't played in a long time," Anders observed, turning his desk to face the new girl's. "Mind pairing up?"

He didn't seem to think the class was weird, but after two years all the weirdness sort of blurred together.

"Sure," Faith said, "and same here. I'm pretty rusty."

She shuffled the desk of cards like someone who had played a lot of card games - she didn't exactly show off with fancy tricks, but her fingers rifled through the cards smoothly and quickly.

"So high school teaches you how to gamble, huh? I should have enrolled sooner."

Edited 2016-08-29 16:24 (UTC)

"I've been here too long," Anders admitted, watching her fingers with appreciation for the skill. "I didn't even think about how strange it is."

"Or maybe it's totally normal," Faith said. "I was picturing something way different, though. With a lot more staring at whiteboards learning math."

She finished shuffling and began dealing cards, seven cards apiece. "How long have you been here?"

"Little over two years," Anders said, picking up his handful of cards and studying them carefully. "I was a sophomore when I started, and now this is my senior year. Nobody's made me learn math yet."

He made a face at his cards and put down a chip. "There, there's my bet."

"Sounds like a good deal," Faith said with a very slight smile. She was focused on her cards, after all. "I'm really bad at math."

She studied her hand for a moment and then placed down a chip. "Give me your jacks," she said.

"I'm okay at it, but I still don't like it," Anders said, with a tiny smile of his own. "And I don't have any. Go fish."

Faith plucked a card from the deck. Not a nine. Sigh.

"I didn't think I'd like any school stuff," she said thoughtfully. "Except maybe gym. But it's only the first day and I'm already getting surprised, so who knows."

"It's a mixed bag," Anders volunteered. "I've had some classes that were amazing and others that were a complete waste of time. All depends on the teacher."

He glanced to the front of the room. "Rand isn't bad. Who else do you have? And do you have any threes?"

"Go fish," Faith replied. "My only other class is called 'Learning with Mr. Peanutbutter,' which... I don't really know what to expect from that one."

It was probably better to go in blind.

"How about you?"

"Also Mr. Peanut butter,because I thought he had a funny name," Anders said. "And then sex ed and debate. I wanted to stay busy."

"Lots of bookworms at this school," Faith said, but her tone was fond, not teasing. "I was really just taking the 'learn as little as possible' approach."

She shrugged ruefully. "Got any sixes?"

"Yes, unfortunately," Anders said, handing over the six of clubs. "Does that mean you keep my chip?"

Game of Chance, Monday

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