Luck and Chance (Neva)

[Teo]

For months he had heard all kinds of rumors about what went on in the other areas of the city. Lots of men came into the shop and liked to share stories about their time in the Jade Blossom and give very in depth details about some of their favorite girls there. Some of them like to tell stories about their hook ups for black fin and red ash and promised Teo they could get him a good price to which he always politely declined, he didn’t want to get tangled up in that mess besides, he was sure Rin did enough black fin and ash for the both of them. There was something else the guys that came into the shop liked to talk about and it was something Teo found himself considering here and there.

”I’m telling ya, the roulette table is hot! I won 50,000 yuans the other night” one elderly gentleman told Teo while he was waiting for his satomobile to be done ”it’s the best place to go in the city if you’re looking for some good action. Booze, women and money..what more could a guy ask for?”

Teo didn’t really care for the booze or the women but the prospect of winning a substantial amount of money was appealing. He had been slaving here working day in and day out and he barely made enough to get ahead let alone put aside but if he could win some money then he might be able to make it out of here before he was a old man. Later that night and for the next few days Teo mulled the idea around in his head and when his day off came around he found himself taking his stash of yuans from its hiding place and traveling to the Golden Phoenix district.

When he arrived at the Blue Dragon Teo looked around and instantly felt under dressed. While he had cleaned up pretty nice in his opinion his nice clothes had been handmedowns from his brothers and were big on him. Figuring he should find somewhere to sit for a few minutes Teo made his way to the bar area and sat in a empty booth near the corner so he was out of everyone’s way. The whole train ride here he was second guessing his plan. Did he really want to do this? If he won then he could be starting on his dream but if he lost then he lost all of his savings that he had nearly worked himself to death for and did he really want to risk his future on chance?

As soon as he settled into the booth Teo removed his jacket and set it across his lap, feeling for the sizeable lump of cash in his coat pocket to make sure it was still there. The whole way here he had done that, checking every few minutes to make sure no one had picked his pocket or that he dropped anything, he was sure he had looked strange to the people around him but it was a small price to pay for that ease of mind. Now that he was sitting though he was starting to secondguess is plans and Teo brought his hands up to his face and rubbed his temples slowly before letting his hands slide down with a sigh. He needed a drink, maybe that would make this easier.

Looking around for a waitress Teo called out ”excuse me” to a woman who was passing by. If he could get a little liquid courage in him before he went then maybe this day wouldn’t turn out in a disaster like he was anticipating.

[Neva]

Neva could say with complete confidence that the Blue Dragon was the best job she’d ever been able to land. Since the first day of working at the nightclub each shift brought some sort of adventure, whether it be serving the elites of Republic City or chatting with new faces as she made her rounds. The type of crowd that the club drew in was different than what she was used to; rowdy in a sense that was more lighthearted than threatening. There was a thrill that came about when Neva was inside the walls of the Dragon, and it made working there all the more exciting.

She also knew when to stay quiet and keep her head low when it was required. Neva was not oblivious to the triad business going on around the club, and it was in her job description to turn a blind eye and to not respond to any questions that could interfere with the triads’ operations. Even if she was going around the law, she felt indebted to Zuka for giving her the job in the first place, which had greatly improved her life since taking it. Therefore she had no problem giving polite smiles to those who asked questions and pretending that she knew nothing. As far as she was concerned, she was better off being left in the dark unless it directly concerned herself.

With all this in mind, donning her blue uniform became something she looked forward to doing every day. She weaved through the tables and groups of people, carrying trays of drinks with her as she went. The club was busy as usual, never once had they had a slow day as long as she had worked there. This was no different, and Neva took in the atmosphere as she said hello to some of the regulars, taking and serving orders in a timely fashion. She was glad to have worked in some of the seedier areas of the city, as it greatly improved her own speed and capabilities in a much better place.

She was making her way back to the bar when she heard someone call to her, and she halted in her step and turned to the owner of the voice, someone that she didn’t recognize. He stood out from everyone else at the club, but not in a glamourous way. He looked like he came from humble roots, and Neva swore she could sense nerves rolling off of him in waves. She knew that the club could be overwhelming to those who weren’t used to it, and she could only imagine that he didn’t plan to ever end up in a place like this. She smiled kindly to him, figuring that he could use some friendly support in a sea of wealthy, possibly intimidating people. “Welcome to the Blue Dragon. What can I get you?”

[Teo]

The girl had heard him..he was a little surprised too. Teo knew he was under dressed and probably stuck out like a sore thumb and he had expected to be ignored but no, the girl was walking toward him and once she got to his table she stopped and greeted him.

”What can I get you?”

She asked and Teo tried to think of something to drink but his mind was so filled with uncertainty that he couldn’t think ”Uhh…” he started while he tried to think ”anything, I guess, as long as its strong.” Teo brought his hand up and rubbed the back of his head out of nervousness, he considered telling her to make it a double of whatever it is but he thought against it. If he was going to do this he still wanted his wits about him.

[Neva]

Poor guy, Neva thought. This was definitely his first time at the Dragon, and he was obviously a bundle of nerves. She knew how things worked here and most of the patrons would either ignore him completely or wouldn’t take him seriously. Even some of the waitresses would avoid serving him, but those were just the ways of the upper class. Luckily, even though she worked there, Neva didn’t conform to that unspoken code. She gave a polite nod, “I think I know just what you need.”

She made her way to the bar and quickly made him a drink, something strong but not strong enough to knock him off his feet. As she did so she casually eavesdropped on some of the club’s regulars talking nearby (just because she wouldn’t discuss anything she heard or knew didn’t mean she couldn’t listen), and then made her way back over to the young man, placing his drink down on the table. “There you go. If it’s not strong enough I can fix that for you.”

She waited a moment and, because she was curious and couldn’t help herself, asked, “First time at the Dragon?”

[Teo]

Teo barely heard her as she excused herself, he was still working up his nerves on what he wanted to do with his money so when the waitress returned with a drink in hand and told him to try it Teo looked up at her for a moment before it registered. "Thanks' he said while picking up the glass and taking a gulp, almost immediately coughing on it as the strong liquor hit the back of his throat. "It's good." Teo coughed again to clear his throat and sat back a little to try to relax.

“First time at the Dragon?”

He sat up and brought his hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it "that obvious, huh?" Teo sighed "I thought I would come in and see what all the hype was about...." he looked up at her and gave a small smile hoping to make him seem a little less awkward than what he was feeling.

[Neva]

The coughing told her that she’d made the right choice at the bar, maybe too right of a choice. All the time she spent working in the rougher bars she was sure made her idea of strong seem a little much to others, but that was what she got with that kind of crowd. The club was teaching her how to adjust, though she definitely was still figuring some things out. Since he didn’t protest against the drink, however, Neva assumed she was in the clear. At his reply to her question she gave him her own smile. She didn’t want to make him feel like he was underdressed or didn’t fit in; she was sure he had enough of that swirling around in his own head. No, the Dragon could be intimidating but she ought to at least try and make him feel welcome.

“When you work here, you try to make a point to know if you’ve seen a face before,” Neva explained. “I know all the regulars, but I’ve never seen you around here before. So I assumed you were new.”

A safe assumption on her part, it seemed. Neva folded her hands in front of her, nodding to his comment, “The club definitely has its reputation spread out in the city, and it is a nice place. I guess it depends on what part of it you’re really interested in.”

There were many interesting aspects of the club, from the patrons to the atmosphere, and of course the secrets that it held and the dealings that went about in the shadows. Those were the things that Neva did her best to turn a blind eye to; the less she knew the better. She couldn’t help but listen and sneak glances, however, as the curiosity never did fade entirely. The glimpses that she did see were enough to make her turn her back and pretend that nothing out of the ordinary was going on behind closed doors. That being said, she was really hoping this guy didn’t intend to get mixed up into any of that business.

[Teo]

Teo sighed and looked back down at his glass when she mentioned what part of the club he was here for "I'm not really sure, to be honest" The roll of yuans in his pocket suddenly feeling heavier as he thought about the possibility of losing all of it. He took another drink to try to push the doubt away and coughed a little again "Maybe after a couple more of these I'll have my mind made up" Teo held up the glass and turned to smile at the girl, he was sure that if he had a more of whatever this was he would be up for anything.

[Neva]

“Decisions under the influence usually aren’t the best. Trust me, I’ve seen it happen,” Neva replied with a small laugh. Working in the places that she had gave her plenty of stories and lessons learned just by watching. Those people would never live down that kind of embarrassment, even when some deserved it. Truthfully, she didn’t want to see this guy go down that road. He seemed too kind for that.

“Maybe I could help you figure it out?” Neva tipped her head as she offered, “I do have to take my break soon, anyway.”

She didn’t know how much help she’d be when she wasn’t supposed to even acknowledge the underground things that went on at the club, but she could try. It would be better than letting him drink away his uncertainty until he thought he knew what he was doing, and then just ending up worse than before. It was a messy business was what Neva had gathered, and he didn’t really want to get wrapped up in that.

[Teo]

At her offer Teo looked up at her surprised. He hadn’t expected her to take pity on him, he was sure she saw this sort of thing day in and day out working here but looking at her she seemed genuine in her offer. ”Sure” he said. Maybe it was the drink talking but right now he could use a friendly face, even better that it was a pretty face. ”I mean…I don’t want you to waste your break on me, I’m sure there’s got to be something else you’d rather do.” Ugh, why couldn’t he just have left it at ‘sure’? But he was sure this girl had to have something better to do that to sit with him and listen to his problems.

[Neva]

Neva waved her hand dismissively, like she was batting away his concerns. "I don't mind at all. I could use a little change in my routine."

Usually Neva just spent her breaks in the back, listening to the other girls gossip about their lives, famous Pro-benders, and some of the club's patrons. While it was entertaining and all, she didn't mind sacrificing one day for something different. She was sure she'd catch up eventually and her co-workers would be happy to vent to her again. For now, all of that could wait. Neva smiled to him, "Give me about five minutes, okay? I'll be back."

She turned and made another round through the room, serving drinks and cleaning a few tables. Neva always did have a hard time sitting down, always wanting to be on the move, but she figured if she could get a little more taken care of then she'd be more inclined to sit. Time got away from her, however, and she realized that it had been more like ten minutes that she'd kept the boy waiting. She finished up and told one of her co-workers that she was taking her break and where she'd be, and made her way back over to the table. 

Luckily he was still there, and she slid into the seat across from him. She ran her hand through her hair, and then settled back, giving him an apologetic smile, "Sorry for the wait, I got a little caught up. Do you need another drink or anything?"

[Teo]

Teo smiled at the girl and sat back while he waited for her to come back. This girl was probably one of the first legitimately friendly person he had met since he had come to Republic City and while Teo was sure it was part of her waitress sphell to get a better tip he was going to humor himself because he needed a friend at the moment.

Five minutes had passed which quickly turned to ten and still she had not come back and Teo was sure she had found something better to do. Well, so much for that. Picking up his glass he knocked back the rest of the liquor and sat there with his head tilted back thinking about what he was going to do with this money. While he was thinking he heard a voice and Teo moved his head down as he saw the waitress from before slide into the empty booth across from him.

Well that was a surprise and when she asked him if he wanted another drink Teo waved him off, if he wanted to keep his wits about him he had better not. ”It’s fine, gave me some time to clear my head from that strong drink you made me.” He realized he had never gotten her name or given her his and this would just be awkward without them. ”I’m Teo by the way.”

[Neva]

Neva laughed a little, “I’ll lay off a bit next time. I’m still getting used to serving this type of crowd.”

She really had to figure that out soon before she accidentally knocked someone off their feet. That wouldn’t exactly be a good reflection, or maybe it would. Better for her to not take her chances, though. As he introduced himself she smiled. “Nice to meet you, Teo. My name is Neva.”

Crossing her legs she leaned forwards a little, resting her arms on the table. Okay, she was done working for a bit. Time to get her focus on convincing this guy what was in his best interests. Without, revealing to him just why he shouldn’t do whatever he was planning. This was going to be harder than she had first thought. Still, she had to give it a go. Neva tipped her head to the side, “So, did the drink help you make any decisions yet? Or just confuse you more?”

[Teo]

"Nah its fine. Isn't that what most people come here for? Strong drinks and pretty girls?" He knew he was feeling a little looser and relaxed after that which if she wasn't here he would probably be making his way downstairs sometime soon. When she introduced herself Teo nodded and smiled back "Nice to meet you Neva."

Teo waited while Neva got herself settled and he listened to her question which made him bring up one shoulder in a shrug. "I'm still torn..." How much did he really want to tell her? It did occur to Teo that this could be some kind of ploy to get him to drop his guard so he went and spent all his money in the casino but looking at her she didn't seem like that kind of person. Then again, Teo had learned a long time ago that you never trust anyone in this city outright. "On the one hand, if things went in my favor it would help me a lot...and if they didn't then I would lose everything." OK, so maybe that drink had been stronger than he realized.

[Neva]

Ah, so he was here for the gambling. It was what Neva had guessed, even though she didn’t like to make assumptions. She knew many people were tempted to try their luck here, and she’d be lying if she said that when she’d first moved here, the thought of striking it big hadn’t occurred to her at least once. But it had always been a fleeting thought, one easily put out of her mind. For her, taking that kind of risk just hadn’t been worth it.

How to talk him through it without spilling everything was a bit more of a challenge. Neva knew it was more that she shouldn’t be talking to any officials or police about the club’s illegal sections, but she liked to keep it all to herself just in case. She could never be too careful, and that last thing she wanted was to make a mistake. She tipped her head a little, lacing her fingers together on top of the table. “I guess the one question I would say to ask yourself is, can you afford to lose everything you have? Luck isn’t very reliable.”

That was good, right? She hadn’t admitted anything that he didn’t already know. Besides, she hadn’t outright said there was an illegal casino here...right, no harm done so far. Maybe that would be enough to convince him he shouldn’t be loitering downstairs.

[Teo]

At her question Teo sat there a moment and thought it over. He knew he couldn't afford to lose this money, he had worked hard and scrimped, scraped and saved for what he had but that was quickly starting to become tiresome. Teo was tired of working so hard for so little and this just seemed like the only way he had out of that cycle.

"Not really.." Teo said finally, bringing the back of his hand up to rub the back of his neck and he looked across at Neva. "I can't afford to lose it but I cant really afford to keep going how I am either." Teo knew that if he kept going at the rate he was he was going to work himself into a early death.

Spirits listen to him, this poor girl was sitting here on her break listening to him whine about his problems and that made him feel like a ass. "Uh, can I buy you a drink or anything?" Was she even allowed to drink on her breaks? "You should get something more out of this than just listening to my problems." He chuckled weakly but he felt like he owed her something. Regardless of what his decision was later he was going to leave her a large tip for all the help but if he could give her something now then he didn't mind.