Litter Sequel: Return to the Casino! (Tomomi / Gabe)

Sun now setting, Tomomi walked up to the moderately familiar casino building he had attended once before. Still, unlike before, Tomomi didn't come for a job, not wearing his litter picking attire, but instead coming as close to a normal person as he could, albeit with his signature jacket over his shoulder. Hair a windswept mess, the boy carefully walked up to and entered the casino, looking inside and, as expected of an anxious boy, clearly out of his element. Still, when he was last here, he was told to come back and see it when not working, so, he figured he may as well do it. Get, well... Life experience? That was a thing useful, right?

Probably?

As Tomomi approached the ever busy and growing establishment called the lucky clover, he would notice that there was plenty of things going around in front and around him.  Not only were people waiting to get in the door seemed to open and close on occasion with people walking in and out of the casino. It was quite a busy night, and for such a busy night, it was also full of coincidences.

Gabe himself had stepped out in order to escort one of the patrons on his way, a very wealthy man that had a companion who seemed to steal a glance from Gabe more often than not.  After waving goodbye as they were being escorted to their limo, Gabe took a look at Tomomi and waved.

"So glad to see that you showed up Tomomi, how have you been?"

Completely bewildered while standing at the entrance, shuffling to the side and out of the way as wealthy patrons went in and out of the casino, Tomomi waved in return as the manager magician card guy walked over to him. "Ah! Uh, hi Gabe! I am okay. I've been doing the, um, usual for me, of working, studying, and extra studying? Um... General student stuff I guess?"

Looking around once more, Tomomi's face did nothing to hide the surprise on his face. "So this is what it's like when it's open... Um... As someone that doesn't usually go to casinos, I have to say, um... This is... Uh... Impressive? So, um, as you're the manager, um, good job? So, uh, how's it been for you?"

You know, thinking about it a little, I wonder if that's what I'm doing as well? It is my senior year in the seven stars academy. Or as a matter of fact, I could say that this is the "cruising by senioritis" that everyone experiences in the end. I'm basically done though, and there is always the fact of trying to figure out life from after all of the education that one gains. Being embedded in my work at such a pace, maybe that's why people have this opinion about me of being older than I seem. "

Stepping forward, Gabe gave Tomomi a gentlemen's bow before greeting him inside. "Nevertheless, I personally welcome you to the Lucky Clover, and I hope you do find some aspects of the establishment that interests you."" As Gabe led the way inside to the Lucky Clover casino, he would give a casual nod. "Some days are better than others, I tend to be quite transparent on my mood or how I feel about things. As long as people feel the need to forget about the bad times and enjoy themselves, this is the place they would go. But what about yourself? Any good news?"

Tomomi just nodded and listened as he followed Gabe into the casino, looking around like one would imagine a tourist might, taking in the fantastic and foreign sights to him with the occasional "ohhh" escaping his lips beneath his breath. He was a bit taken off guard from hearing that Gabe also went to Seven Stars. He seemed like just another adult to him, although that clearly showed Tomomi's lack of ability to gauge ages of other people.

At Gabe's question, Tomomi tilted his head in thought. Good news? Huh. Uhhh. "Um... Does having no bad news count as good news? Because, if that is the case, then, um, that? Like I said, it's just been work and study for me... Um, what about you? Business been good for you?"

"Good question, depends on if the person asking for news receives any kind of news of the sort or not. If nothing was to be gained with the kind of news they were searching for, it's a good chance that a stagnant life is just as bad as bad news if one isn't moving forward. But if you are just taking it easy, it could also bean a good thing. "


Bringing Tomoi over to the main hall, Gabe would lead Tomomi to the bar.

"Are you hungry? We actually have a buffet at the upper floors, it's somewhat the cause for quite the garbage at time, the menu changes once a month. But for now, if you wanted a drink, even if just a soda, I could get that for you. After all, you are my guest, I like to be sure that the people I know are well taken care of. "

Sitting on a nearby stool, Gabe would ponder the last thought Tomomi brought up.

"In the sense of business, do you believe that things could get better with how restrained we are in these walls?"

Tomomi continued to just look around, before shaking his head. "Oh uh... I probably... Um..."

Reaching into his pocket, the boy took out a bit of money, holding it out. "Um, that should be the price of a Dr Salt Neo, unless the price is different in a casino? So, um, can I have one of those please? If that's uh, not a problem..." It felt odd to ask for a drink like that in a fancy casino, but that mattered not. The thirst was real. The not-suggestive thirst.

Gabe's response to Tomomi's question with a question was questionable. All Tomomi expected was a "yes, it's good" or a "Not really, things have been bad admittedly." Instead he got a metaphorical response and what Tomomi thought really hard on trying to determine if it were a trick question or not. "Uh..."

Pausing, the boy shrugged. "I uh... I have no idea? I was... Uh... Just asking if work's been good..."

"Well, if we are skipping straight to the point, work is fine. Plus, since you have been helping us the other day with the cleanup, the first drink was actually on me. Just call it a complimentary courtesy of your visit today, I am very happy that you decided to come. " With a snap of his fingers, the bartender started to prepare Tomomi the dr salt neo as Gabe looked around the casino.


"So, are you interested in any sort of game or slot machines around? Socializing is all good, but when one starts to get bored, the feeling of wanting to win big starts to creep in."

Not wanting to try push the point, Tomomi just nodded and accepted the soft drink, surprised by the tinge of frustration at being asked the question again before listening to the next question. Gambling games... Wanting to win big...

Thinking for a moment, Tomomi just shook his head. "Um... Honestly, not really? I've never been a gambler, and it's just kind of not really my thing... Not the sort of thing someone in a casino should say, but, um... Sorry, those games aren't my sort of thing..."

"That's fine, I understand that not everyone can enjoy the sentiments of such games, or find the purpose in them. Some bets can change lives for the better or worse, most gamblers in life mimic the ones you see at the tables, the ones who don't play, but live on for the sake of each passing day. I think we all do that, we all like to find a comparison to our own lives with what we do every day."

Looking over to the bartender, Gabe would ask for a drink himself.

"Can you make me an apple martini Jessica?"

She nodded and immediately went to prepare the drink for the manager as he paid back attention to Tomomi.

"Well, conversing and observing is something you shouldn't expect to be criticized about, so no worries. As a matter of fact, what do you think of the place when it's alive at night?"

Listening to the gambler manager speak, Tomomi waited patiently for him to finish his order, before thinking on the next question, taking another look around as he pondered it. Bright lights of machines and general lighting, laughter spreading around the room. Dazzling arrays of colours with bold pronunciation of greens and reds being the most prominent. People hunched over tables, with cards and dice in hand, the sound of rolling, drinking, shouting, cheering. A sensory bewilderment.

"Um... Well, it's um... Alive? There's certainly a lot more people here than when it was, well, uh, closed. There's also a lot of lights around and things to look at generally, and even when it looks like someone's lost, there's still this sense of... Fulfilment that I can see? Um... I don't really know how to describe it beyond that..."

"There is no need to describe it any further than you did. If that is the impression that you were able to take from being here, then I would have no choice but to accept it. You see Tomomi, feedback is a gift. I wouldn't know these things of how patrons would describe my place of business or what they think should change or improve if no one approached me to explain. For that alone, I am forever grateful. Feigning ignorance to think that I am in control of is not my style. "

Receiving his drink, Gabe took a sip of it and turned over.

"Such is the life of an owner. "

Rubbing at the back of his neck, Tomomi really was at a loss for what to say. Fizzy drink in hand, the litter picker had no idea what to really say. He wasn't a patron or anything like that, so he didn't see how his opinion mattered to an owner. But, no point mentioning or showing that, instead chiming in with a question to avoid making the atmosphere awkwardly quiet. "So um... What do you like, want the casino to be like? I mean, as an owner, you must have some ideas on what you want it to be right?"

"Well, everything that I worked hard on is basically coming into fruition from what you can see in front of you. All of my hard work, everything that i focused on. I'm pretty proud of it all, and trying not to be greedy is the focal point of making sure that what is already yours, stays yours for the most part. " Gabe took another sip of his drink and smiled. "But if i was to have my way as to how this all ended, i'd want the lucky casino to be a place where people can just forget about their worries, even for a little bit. Spend their money, drink, mingle, have a good time. Maybe they might win big at a casino table and can afford a decent kind of living for a while. "

Crossing his arms, Tomomi nodded as he listened. He wasn't sure if this was honest, or the sales pitch of a business man. Still, the prospect of a nicer future was certainly appealing, so he could see the appeal for others in that regard at least. Still, Tomomi knew the dangers of gambling, and the act of it was rather unappealing to him regardless. But for the people it interested, it was probably a paradise in the city. Perhaps a distraction and danger, but a paradise. Tomomi wasn't sure.

Still, he smiled as he finished up. "Yeah, everyone wants a different life, one better than what they already have, so, that makes sense... Regardless, it is nice to see things are well with you and your business Mr Gabe!" He added with a smile, before yawning. "Ah, I hope you don't mind if I shoot off soon. I can stick around if you'd like, but, I have to get up early for work tomorrow before the academy, so, I hope to sleep when I get back. I can stick around to chat more if you want though! I'd hate to be rude."