[We open into one of the backrooms of the Candy Shop, and find Candy Kane sat at a table with three of her girls: one with an authoritative air, one with glitz and glam, and a third that seems to be new, unsure of the game.]
[Candy shuffles the cards, and deals them out to each player. As she does, she takes an inhale from the long smoking stick and speaks]
There’s nothing quite like a set of cards. Four groups, four symbols, and four ladies. All one could really ask for in this world, but not all ladies are built the same. Each has a set goal, and something they really want that manifests as their calling card.
It’s all about finding out what that is for them.
[The timid player looks around, and lays out her hand. Prominent among them is the black ace of clubs, but the hand is a smattering of different combinations and colors.]
Take the ace of clubs for example. Outshined by the competition, it’s a fresh start for anyone that has it. It harnesses the strength, but compared to the rest? It’s just a blank slate, forgotten among the rest as it crumbles down. For each card, while having two faces can’t ever really know the other can they? How can one that lost her memory have any hope in keeping up with the competition?
[The humble one pouts dejectedly. Seeing the chance to shine, the sparkling one lays out her hand, with the jack of diamonds sitting on top.]
Of all the high flying cards, the diamond is the one that has a hard knack of stealing the show. It shines, glittering and breathtaking as people do insane things to get their hands on them. But more often than not, they crash and burn. Thrill seekers reaching out for that blaze of glory and rush of adrenaline.
[The glitz and glam one loses a bit of their shine as the authoritative one smirks, showing her hand. On top is the queen of hearts, but beneath with a skeletal visage is the queen of aces]
And there’s the queen of hearts herself. Bloody, ruthless, and willing to do whatever it takes to win. But there’s always a shadowy side, that slip of madness hiding just beneath the visage of the loving ruler, leading to their downfall.
[With a small sigh and the faintest line of a smirk, Candy reveals her card and the winning piece: the ace of spades. The other girls dismay, some cursing and the glitter covered one making her way back stage. Kane chuckles as she speaks.]
If you want to stay up above the rest, you have to have that ace up your sleeve. And there’s no better than the ace of spades. Keep that edge above the rest, and you’ll come out on top every time. No matter what blank slates, high flying thrill seekers, or deluded royalty come your way, as long as that ace is up your sleeve you’ll be just fine.