'Why won't you listen to me? What am I even to you? Yet your loss haunts me, the smile so sweet, I am almost repulsed. Here I am, asking for more.'
The first thing that [Name] noted was the loud music, and bright lights of the casino machines and the dim lights overhead, the air was thick with smoke, mingled with the scent of alcohol that seemed to also linger heavily in the air. He didn't really know where to start – he entered the lobby, and went to the reception desk, and gave his details to the receptionist, who then handed over a membership card to him, and slid him a small drinks card.
[Name] nodded his thanks, and headed through the gates, and he saw the slot machines, with many people already sitting there, playing and tapping away aggressively at the buttons, some looking miserable but still enraptured with the spinning slots and machines. He continued walking further and there were groups of people crowded around different tables, and there was one table in particular, where there were three middle-aged men sat, all watching each other – the dealer began by dealing two cards, face down to each player, then after the first round, the dealer burns the top card of the deck, placing it faced down; the dealer deals three community cards face up in the centre of the table. The dealer burns another card and then deals a single community card face up next to the flop.
[Name] moved closer to watch the game, continuing to watch attentively as the men continued playing, he didn't really understand completely what was going on – and feeling entirely out of his depth.
There was a second round of betting, the dealer burns another card and then deals a single community card face up next to the flop.
The atmosphere was tense on the table; and the music faded around [Name] as he watched enraptured by the game, there was something about the way the men all sized each other up, and the amount in the pool had also grown. With one showing desperation, the other two seemed to be more out of their depth, as they continued observing each other, silent, before the other two finally called again.
Even [Name] started to feel warm, tense and on edge as the amount continued to rise before one of the men folded, leaving only two of them at the table that were still continuing – it shouldn't have been any longer than a few minutes, but time didn't seem to be real in the casino – they showed their cards.
The man who won kept his composure, and the other man who had lost – left the table, tense and red in the face, he barged past [Name] shoulder checking him; [Name] stumbled back with a grunt, [Name] sighed and looked for one of the smaller tables, almost wincing as he hears the amounts of other people at the different tables, some of them so high he'd almost vomit if he lost that much money, or even gained that money.
[Name] slowly starts feeling quite overwhelmed, and makes his way to the bathroom, the flashing lights, but they were bright nonetheless, where the music was more muffled, not as loud as before and he enters a cubicle, putting the lid down and taking a seat, letting out a breath.
'Lucian?'
'Yes, Host?'
'I don't think I can do it.'
'Why not, Host? You have your stats upgraded and so is your luck.'
'I genuinely can't, I really can't handle this environment.'
[Name] leaned forwards, cradling his head in his hands with a sigh – shaking his head and reaching for his phone, scrolling through his contacts, his thumb hovered over Henry's contact but stopped and he flicked further down and found Declan's contact. He pressed on it and then put it to his phone, waited for a few moments before the call failed, and he was reminded that there was no signal in the casino.
He sighed and ended the call, and connected to the wifi of the casino, before hesitating again. Would calling Declan be a good idea to come get him? [Name] paused for a second and decided to call, and damn the consequences later – the phone started ringing.
"Hey, what do you want?" Declan's voice was groggy as if he was asleep before picking up the call.
"Sorry, uh, I was wondering if you could come get me?"
"What…" there was some shuffling on Declan's end, "Where are you?"
"In the… uh," [Name] hesitates, he doesn't think he can handle another scolding, "Lady Fortune's Casino," he trails off, his voice quiet.
There was a pause.
"You are where?!"
[Name] winced, and he went to repeat himself but he was cut off again.
"Why are you in a casino?" Declan asked, his voice tinged with anger, "Fuck it, I'll be there in 20, wait outside, prick."
"Okay–"
The call ended abruptly.
[Name] doesn't think he's ever felt so annoyed, but also apprehensive about Declan and the conversation that was soon to follow when he got in the car. He sighed again and got up, opening the cubicle door and leaving, weaving through the crowds of people before moving to the exit, showing his card to the security guard, who let him out. [Name] waited for a few minutes before a car stopped in front of him and his.
Declan rolled down the passenger window, his voice annoyed and gruff, "Get in."
[Name] hurriedly got into the car, and Declan pulled off quickly – they sat in a tense silence for a while before Declan spoke.
"How much did you lose?"
"What?"
Declan's grip tightens on the steering wheel, he grits out, "How much did you lose?"
"I didn't–"
"Yeah, right," Declan snarls, "The fact that you were in a casino probably means you've done this before! So, answer me, Leo, how much did you lose?"
"Fucking hell it was my first time in there!" [Name]'s voice also grew in volume, tone indignant, "Yes, I was going to spend some money, but I didn't!"