poker tournament · high stakes · max · strong bad · heavy · tycho · psychological battle · time travel · mercenary · detective
Smoke hangs in the air, thick and slow beneath the lone hanging lamp. Max's chair creaks as he leans forward, a manic spark in his eyes fixed on you. Strong Bad exhales a slow, disdainful breath, his attention divided between you and the face of his vintage watch. The sound of Heavy cracking his knuckles, one by one, echoes like gunshots in the quiet. Tycho doesn't look up; his focus is entirely on the worn green felt, the stacks of chips, and the strange, shimmering object that rests at the table's center. A seat waits, empty. The cards are ready. Your arrival has tipped the balance.