Luck and Chance (Neva)

[Neva]

As he explained his predicament Neva nodded in understanding. She knew how lucky she was, that even when she had been scraping she’d been able to make things work. It was a tough situation that didn’t give easy solutions, and he knew his struggles better than her. Of course, she could see why he’d be debating this and seriously considering. How could she blame him when it sounded like he lived a rather rough life?

Unfortunately, her reach to help only extended so far. Maybe that was what was so frustrating; that she didn’t really know how to help other than to try and explain why she didn’t think it was such a good idea. Neva was so lost in thought that she almost missed what he said next, and her eyebrows rose a little before she gave a small laugh, “Really, I don’t mind. Listening is kind of what I’m used to doing. It comes with working at bars for so long, after all.”

Should she let him buy her anything? She felt a little guilty, especially since he made it clear he was on hard times and she was better off. But she sensed he felt guilty for her listening, and she didn’t want to make him feel worse. “Normally I’d say no while I’m working, but this time I’ll let you. But really, you don’t owe me anything. I did offer to be here.”

[Teo]

Even if she said he didn't owe her anything Teo still felt like he had to and when Neva agreed to a drink he asked her what she wanted before slipping off to the bar and coming back a few minutes later with two drinks in hand. As he sat down Teo put Nevas drink in front of her and took his with a small sip.

Now that they had that Teo felt like maybe he should elaborate on what he did. "I work at a garage" he started, taking another sip "one of the few that isn't involved in any...other business" Teo wanted to tread lightly there since he knew where he was "but its just me and the owner..which really means its just me. The guy I work for sits at his desk and spends more money than we make which means that the pay is never steady."

Teo took a big sigh and sat back "I can't leave because there's really nowhere else to go that isn't involved in other things...My dream is to own my own garage but if I stay I'm going to be working like this until I die and by the time I have the money that I need it will be too late." Another sigh and another sip "That's why I'm here." It still didn't sit well with him but he didn't know what else to do.

[Neva]

When Teo returned Neva thanked him for the drink, taking a sip as she listened to him begin his explanation. At his mention of the kind of business he tried to avoid, Neva found it kind of ironic that ended up here of all places. Then again, there weren’t many places in this city that weren’t somehow linked to the Triads. Everything trailed back to them, one way or another. She frowned, “Sounds more like a pain than a job.”

She tapped her fingers lightly on the table. His predicament was obvious, and it didn’t leave many options, especially if he was unwilling to get a better job. Of course, better jobs usually meant they had some Triad business attached to them, and she could understand why he didn’t want to be involved with that. Even she tried to keep herself as detached as possible, which made turning a blind eye to what went on here even better for her.

“I see what you mean,” Neva said after a minute. “Trust me, I understand where you’re coming from. Sometimes in order to keep yourself away from business like that, you suffer for it. In this city, it’s a little hard to avoid. You’re in or you’re out.”

She paused, trying to choose her words carefully, “However, if you do choose to take your chances here...just know that you’re putting yourself in the thick of that business, at least here.”

[Teo]

It really was a damned if you do damned if you don't situation and Teo hated it. When he first moved here he had so many hopes, so many plans but this city was like a leech. It sucked out any hopes and dreams a good person might have. If you weren't willing to get your hands dirty and hurt others to make your money then you just didn't make any.

"I know that" he replied when Neva reminded him that by gambling here he was playing right into the Triads hands "but I heard things about this place" from what he had heard the Triad that ran The Blue Dragon was more or less pretty safe compared to the others. As long as he kept his head down and didn't owe more than he could pay he should be find. "That its not as bad...if thats even a thing."

[Neva]

Was it a thing? Well, in a way it was. Neva sipped her drink, mainly to stall for time while she thought it over, and then set the glass back down on the table. “In a way, yes. No one is going to jump you for no reason. It’s better, but it’s still...that kind of business. It's easy to get mixed up in something you don't want.”

She was eternally grateful for all the opportunities she’d gotten, and Neva would never take those for granted. That didn’t mean she didn’t know what else went on, and when it came down to it, the Dolls were still a Triad. Just because they weren’t as ruthless towards the general populace as the others didn’t mean they were completely different. They had their own operations behind the scenes, many of which she didn't really want to wonder about.

Neva leaned her arms on the table, “I try to just focus on my job, really. That way it’s safer for everyone, me included. The less you know around here, the better off you are.”

[Teo]

Teo let her words sink in for a moment and he thought about it. If he did this he was still getting himself involved with a Triad, if he went down there he risked getting himself into something he couldn't get himself out of and then he would have no choice but to get involved. Was that something he really wanted to risk?

Teo had done his damnedest to keep himself off the Terra's radar, keeping a low profile and his head down whenever he walked through their neighborhood because he didn't want to get roped into their business and yet here he was. "That is something to think about" Teo said while he absently twisted his glass between his hands.

[Neva]

“There is a lot to consider,” Neva admitted. If only she could tell him something positive, but that was the whole issue here. It was either get in with the Triads in some way, or stay out of it and continue just barely above poverty. There weren’t many places to turn to for help that weren’t funded by the Triads, and Neva felt like it would always be that way. Not that it helped anyone, really. They were all one step away from getting involved somehow, no matter how hard they tried to be free of it.

“I know I must sound like a downer,” Neva said apologetically. “I just want you to know what you might be stepping into beforehand. After all you’ve told me, I’d hate to see you walk out empty handed.”

She sighed, resting her head on her hand, “I wish I could offer you a better job. That would solve half the problem.”

[Teo]

At Nevas comment about her sounding like a downer Teo waved it off. He needed advice and he would rather hear the sad truth than a too good to be true lie. 'The truth hurts sometimes" she was right though, he could lose everything and then where would he be? He would either have to work for his good for nothing boss for the rest of his life, end up on the street or worse end up having to go back home. None of those things were what he wanted.

Her wish at wanting to offer him a better job made Teo smile a little before he laughed slightly "that would be very kind of you if that was possible but I couldn't take advantage of something like that." Any kind of better job would probably put him in the same predicament. "You've offered me good advice, don't think I could ask for anything better than that." He raised his glass at her slightly and took a drink.

[Neva]

Neva smiled back, and then held up her other hand in a sort of half shrug, “What can I say, my advice is the one thing that comes free in this world.”

Honestly if she was ever that down on her luck, it would be something to consider charging for. But then it would take the fun out of it, and she did enjoy helping people to the best of her ability. If anything, she could offer her words when she had nothing else to give. Some people didn’t always value that, but to those who did, she felt she contributed at least something to their predicament.

She picked up her glass, glancing down at the drink and said, “Someone gave me an opportunity once that really helped me out. If I ever have the chance to pay if forward, I’d like to do so.”

Neva took a sip, and then looked back up to Teo with half a smile, “Well, to someone that deserves it I should say. People like your boss are on the bottom of that list.”

[Teo]

Teo laughed a little 'I can't argue with that" he said at the mention of his boss. he wasn't a bag guy but..at least Teo kept telling himself that, he wasn't bad he was just..oh who was he kidding. The man was a crook and a cheat.

'Its nice that there are still people in this city that still want to help others, that people are still willing to give others the chance to do something more." Teo wondered who this person was that gave Neva her opportunity but it wasn't his place to ask so he left it be. "And its nice to have people like you out here that are willing to listen and want to help, this city needs more people like you."

[Neva]

“You give me too much credit,” Neva said, though she was smiling. “Not everyone is willing to listen. And honestly, sometimes it’s just better to let people do their own thing.”

She looked over, watching as a group of Republic City’s elite made their way to the downstairs door. They were regular patrons to the club, and while it was the perfect place for them and they supplied the business with plenty of yuans, they weren’t the greatest people in the city. In fact a few of them were complete snobs, in her opinion, and it was obvious even from the way they talked among each other and made their way across the room. Neva waited until they had gone before looking back to Teo, “Case and point.”

She didn’t mind helping people, but she only really extended her hand to those she felt deserved it. Stopping anyone like that from going down there wasn’t really in her interests. “There are always going to be those that make this city more difficult to live in. It really needs a lot more than I can offer. Not enough to make me pack up and go home though, so I guess as bad as it can be sometimes, it’s not the worst.”

[Teo]

"Credit where credit is deserved" He agreed that not everyone would want to listen to advice from a lounge waitress but Teo was thankful for it because she may have saved his life. Teo followed her gaze and saw the group of powerful looking men heading for the back of the club and sighed quietly. If he went down there he would stick out even more than he did here, and he was sure would have 'sucker' written in big letters across his forehead.

"Well, I can attest to your wise wisdom so if you ever need a testimony then I'm your guy" Teo once again held up his glass in cheers to her before throwing back some of the liquid.

[Neva]

Neva laughed, unable to help herself. It was so nice to actually have a conversation with someone for once, instead of small talk. He may have felt like he was stealing her time away from other things, but Neva was happy to have a change. She didn’t get to interact with many people like him on a daily basis, and even if he wasn’t the usual type to find their way to the Dragon, she was glad that he had made his way here. “Thank you, I’ll remember that. Good to know I have one person in my corner.”

Sometimes that was all anyone could ask for. She tucked her hair behind her ear, “So, where do you go from here? Back to the garage?”

[Teo]

Her question made him think..which was somewhat harder than normal since his mind was starting to get that floaty feeling that came with drinking. Where was he going from here? "Uh, home I guess." That was what she meant right? Now that he wasn't going to go waste his money downstairs he really didn't have any other plans for the night...and he realized how boring that sounded "pretty lame, right?" Teo said with a small chuckle.

Teo supposed he could get some dinner on the way there, he probably should eat something anyways. Might make him a little more level headed. "Um.." He began "would you like to come with me?" It took a moment for Teo to realize that he didn't actually ask her the question he had in mind and that what he said sounded pretty bad. "No! No, I didn't mean it that way...not that theres anything wrong with you or.." Teo was quickly digging himself a deeper hole the more he went on so slid down a little in his chair from embarassment "dinner." He finally corrected himself "Would you like to come with me to get dinner?"

Deep down he was wishing a hole would open up and swollow him right now. He knew he had just made a ass of himself and she was probably wondering what was wrong with him. She also probably already had plans or she would get out late...or. Teo sighed, someone just kill him now."

[Neva]

“That’s what I do most of the time,” Neva said, smiling. She always loved the chance to go out and have some fun, but she tended to pick up as many hours as she possibly could. That meant afterwards she had to go run errands, get food, and some days she was at the probending arena with the players, healing injuries. Not that she had a problem with any of that, it just usually made doing anything after less of a priority.

As he began to stumble around his words her eyebrows raised slightly in surprise, but quickly evened out so that she was smiling kindly. Even if he was tripping over his words, she found it to be sweet. Too many people tried to act smooth and play up some sort of attitude with her, and it always made her want to roll her eyes and walk away. This was not the case, and really, she wouldn’t mind spending more time with him. It was one of those days where she didn’t have any pressing matters to attend to later, and those other items on her to-do list could wait.

“I think I would like that very much,” she answered, smiling to him. “I have about an hour left of this shift if you don’t mind waiting.”

Once she had her answer she slid out from the booth and stood, taking her empty glass. “If you want anything else just let me know. I’ll be around here somewhere.”