[color=crimson]"Good, I won't have to bother with explaining the rules then."[/color] Geralt said, enthusiastically. He watched as Ivory leaned over to Akane, and noticed her fox-like ears slowly disappear from the top of her head. Though his face did not betray it, he was impressed. He'd have to add this to the list of facts he would use to research exactly what Akane was.

He was surprised to think that there were things to research at all. He wasn't expecting to come into contact with creatures that he had never heard of before. Although Geralt was well-traveled and confident in his knowledge of the unknown, even he had to admit that there were things he hadn't seen. He was only sure of three of the troupe's origins: Lucien was definitely of some divine nature, 'madame' Illynova was a seer of some skill, and their Winter Fairy was from a vampiric bloodline. The other three, well, he couldn't begin to guess. But all of this would come in time.

At Aurel's comment, Geralt snapped out of these thoughts and turned his attention on his fellow German. [color=crimson]"Das ist nicht nötig, I've always preferred a Joker."[/color] he said, and clapped his hands once more. 

The sound of the snap was loud, and final as his palms came together. There was a brief pause, and when he spread them apart, there was a deck of cards flashing between his palms in a mid-air spring flourish. The backs of the cards were matte black and had no pattern, and were quite unique. Once they were all in his palm, he cut the deck with one hand, then bent it and flicked another card through the air and into the opposite hand. He held it between his index and middle finger and flashed it to the troupe to reveal a joker. It was stylized after a gentleman with a suit and cane, and did slightly resemble its summoner. 

Cora clapped her hands over her mouth as she watched this display, her blue-green eyes wide with wonder as she watched the cards snap and fly through the air. She mouthed 'wow' to Akane, but did not speak. She had never before seen these feats, and even though Lucien and Ivory were good at cards, she was quite sure neither of them could do [i]that[/i].

-----------------------------------------------------

Illyana paused when she felt Lucien touch her shoulder. Although her hand was still hovering over the handle to the door, she looked over her shoulder as he spoke to show that she was listening. 

Again, he was right. His assessment of the situation, although it may be slightly clouded, was sound. Illy did not want to tip Geralt off that they were on to him in any way. The less he knew of their abilities and true natures, the better. She knew she would have to live and work with this man, but hoped that his relationship with everyone in the troupe, including Lucien and herself, would remain strictly professional. The moment he felt like he had been figured out, he would likely either lash out or leave them high and dry, and that was not what they needed in this moment.

She could feel that Lucien was stressed. Though his aura remained pure, divine, it was clear that their situation was getting to him. She trusted him to have everyone's best interests at heart, but she worried that he would be spreading himself too thin. Worrying about their financial situation while attempting to field their new member and also put up with his advances, well, it could get tiring for him quickly. She knew he would be too worried about all of these issues to take care of himself, this was why she knew she had to share some of the load.

She sighed and shook her head, dropping her hand from the handle and letting her expression soften. [color=598527]"I'm sorry, Lucien. I do understand, and I know you're right. I just get...caught up sometimes."[/color] She reached up and patted the hand that he had left resting on her shoulder. [color=598527]"It's okay, I won't take it too far."[/color] she reassured him by giving him a small smile. Though her expression remained slightly tense, this was what she could offer him for the time being.