The meter had long since swallowed the last coin and the powerless plasma TV and lights had plunged the cave into darkness. Robin stumbled about to the cave's entrance. Distant artifical light was no help in seeing any better, although the fresh breeze and general distant luminescence from the city was less stifling than the mysterious dark dankness of the cave.
Where was Nudgeman? This was Sunday and Showboat and Shipleys had closed early as per usual. So was he down the pub? Curses to the man.
There was a stuffed crust garlic meat feast pizza, that had been promised to fill the rumbling hungry gap. There had been $10 left in the change pot for the meter and it had gone, plus the emergency $1 back up kept next to the lighter in the kitchen.
Robin gazed perplexed, a brief absence seizure, a void of consciousness and then automatically dialled a number. Then another number. Then another. So it carried on. He had called all the pubs with those machines in and not one reported a strange looking superherogentleman wearing tight black pants and a black cape.
The Nudgemobile was still parked outside. He hadn't travelled far. This was slightly worrying. What was he to do? The answer was obvious. The Nudgemobile would definitely have some kind of contraption in for cooking a frozen stuffed crust garlic meat feast quadro formaggio pizza deluxe.
After a few stubbed toes, Robin re-emerged with the keys. Now where was that super hero gadget? Let's see. A demister. Windscreen wipers. Wow, this is really hi-tech. A radio (medium wave/long wave). Cigarette lighter. Hmmmm. Maybe that would cook the pizza. Must be a supercharged cigarette lighter. Doesn't look supercharged. Robin glumly conceded that The Batmobile probably had in built facilities for fast food, but all the Nudgemobile had was a slightly modified glove box for storing exceptional quantities of pound coins. Just as Robin was fumbling in the glove box for any loose coins, the sound of footsteps on gravel approached.
"Robin, what on earth are you fumbling around there for?"
<<Bangs head>>
"Arrrgh! The electrics off damnitt and I'm hungry and...and why are you wearing those stupid shades?"
"Oh errr...it's part of the outfit."
"It's gone eleven, it's pitch black, it's not even summer. You're wearing shades."
"Yeah, well, they kind of go with the pants and cape. Looks good yeah?"
"No, they look bloomin' stupid. Have you got a spare dollar for the meter or what?"
"Spare dollar? I've got a spare $30 Robin."
"$30!!! Wowser!!! You've hit the jackpot. What was it? A Cluedo? A What's in your box? A Vamp it up? A Golden Game? A..."
"...let's go inside."
With that, the meter was fed a dollar and the pizza cooked whilst Nudgeman talked.
"Robin. I didn't go out tonight to play fruit machines. No amount of fruit machining could win me a princely sum of $30."
"Arrrrrgh yikes!! You've memorised all the questions to Deal or no Deal - no boxes on The Itbox."
"Wrong again. I was at a poker game."
"A poker game....as in Late Night poker, Dave The Devilfish, WSOP, Full Tilt, VC, Betfair....poker, poker, Texas Hold 'em, pocket rockets, flush draw, implied odds....."
"......the very same poker Robin. Yes, a live poker game. Fruit machines aren't going to be around for ever. I need to adapt. Crack open some beers. I'll tell you about the game. Just between you and me. I mean I wouldn't reveal my hands to the people I was playing with, that'd be stupid."
"Go on, I'm listening."
"Well it took me a while to get there on the bus. I got the wrong connection I think and that delayed me. When I got there though, 2nd hand or therabouts I had pocket 9s under the gun. I raised to 4*the big blind and a gentleman to my left, Harry I think his name was, called me. The flop came down A9Q. A set from pocket 9s and just the start of things to come. Hey i wouldn't mind a bit of that crust. Yeah cheers. Anyway.....yum....anyway, I reckon this harry had an Ace with decentish kicker. I bet into him a bit too heavy on the turn and he folded. He looked like a gambler, so I thought he might take me on, but he had the sense to fold. Then a few hands later I drew out on this big guy to my right. I thought he was giving me the V sign, but I realised that's just the way he looks. Anyway I had A8 diamonds on a flop of 8 2 5 I think with a four flush for me and top pair. Draws a plenty. I smooth called and got lucky on the river. Not sure I was beat on the flop, but when I hit the river flush with the 4 diamonds I was pretty much home and dry. He played a good fold though and I couldn't milk him for a min raise. Then I ploughed on and landed a few top pairs, bet them out without any resistance and soon I had a pleasant stack. Hold on......this beer needs to be chilled. Stick those cans in the freezer for a few moments. Curses to the electric. errr yeah.
So. To continue. BigV knocked out Harry and another guy with AK. His ace hit, he outkicked this guy with a wooden microphone or dirty utensils and wiped out Harry's Nines. The cards stayed well behaved for me, getting me to the money and three way action was aborted when the master of questions outkicked a mid range ace from the big guy. The stern quizmaster had re-raised my stabs at the blinds with big broadways and sent me packing with tail between legs. Heads up though it was a tense battle with an explosion of two pair versus two pair which I won."
"Well Nudgeman, not a nudge needed and first place. Definitely time for another beer."
"Cheers Robin!"
"Cheers Nudgeman!"
"And here's to the next fruit chat poker tourney. Good game all, well played."
"Well that's all very sporting. It explains those ridiculous shades as well. You've even forgotten to take the tag off the arm. If you're going to play at professional level, you've got to look the part...."
".....tsk....that's no tag Robin. No no. It's a certficate of bragging rights. I'm going to plaster it here......no here.....next to this quiz forum. Looks quite good don't you think?"
"Absolutely."
[Kudos to Nudgeman.]
A hollow laugh, a metal claw, a raspy voice. The Jackpot Joker cackled insanely from a teleportal somewhere distant. That's what you think, Nudgeman. That's what you think.....muahhahhahhahahaha........
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