Geralt turned his attention to Akane as she spoke up. His eyebrows raised slightly higher at her comment and he shook his head slightly, smiling as he spoke, [color=crimson]"Well, the two of you are wise enough for all of the rest of us, huh Aurel?"[/color] he said, nudging the young man gently with his elbow. [color=crimson]"You are exactly right, Akane, facts can become quite...diluted as time goes."[/color] There was a pause as Cora leaned forward to take a card from the Magician, which he offered willingly and with his same smile. She took one, then frowned as she realized she did not have a pair, but quickly her expression returned to its normal placid smile.

[color=crimson]"While I have been performing for quite a while now...in fact, I may have lost the exact count, I can assure you it has not been a hundred years. German genes are strong, but they can't make you immortal."[/color] Geralt absent-mindedly plucked a card from Aurel's hand, then dropped another pair to the table.

[i][color=crimson]Something else can...[/color][/i] More cackling reverberated between his ears.

Illyana took Ivory's cards as they were pushed into her hands, looking up at the dhampir with a hint of desperation in her eyes. She did not want to play, in all honesty, cards had never interested her. They lacked...surprise, as most things did. However, she couldn't necessarily deny Ivory her win, or rather, Geralt's loss.

Hesitantly, she sat at the table, twisting her lips as she looked down at the cards. As Geralt dropped a pair on the table, she realized what game they were playing. She glanced down at her cards, glad that she did not have the 'Old Maid'. Her expression remained neutral and she watched Aurel take his turn.

[color=crimson]"I suppose you were not given a choice, eh Madame?"[/color] Geralt asked her, smiling devilishly.

She merely shrugged in response and said, [color=598527]"It's not really fair when I play, is it?"[/color] Her tone was slightly sassy as she returned this comment, finding power in the revelation of her abilities to the Magician. She knew he already had some inkling as to what she could do, why not let him know that she was aware?

Geralt's expression did not falter in the slightest as he answered, [color=crimson]"We can make an exception."[/color]