[Open Log] Not so very far from here...

[recognize_an_opportunity]

When; Around 10 pm on February 13.
Rating; PG-13 I would imagine.
Characters; Meyer Lansky, and anyone who either works at Lucky's or wants to come gamble!
Summary; It's basically just happy fun times at Lucky's. Or unhappy not fun times, if you decide to cheat or break things! Employees, gamblers, random people wanting a drink... all are welcome!
Log; As far as Meyer was concerned, ten at night was the best time to be at Lucky's. Everyone who worked there was there by then, and that meant he could take a break from dealing hands of poker to wander through the small card room and schmooze with the regulars, as well as greet everyone who came through the door.

As he made his rounds, he was solicitous, complimenting one man on how much money he'd won in a lucky game of blackjack, and commiserating with another man on his empty wallet once he'd lost several hands of poker. He was always suggesting people have another drink, stay for a little while longer, see if they couldn't get their luck back. Maybe just one more hand would win them everything.

If you walk through the door, you're likely to see a large crowd, but Meyer will make sure to push his way through it to greet you personally, shake your hand, and suggest that you take a seat. You never know, tonight might be your lucky night...

Comments

ota!

[spotlighted]

Even though she's only been working here a few days, Ruby's found herself settling in nicely. While it's quite different from the crowds she'd been used to in New York, a large portion of whom had always come specifically to hear her, after all, she's still finding that she's getting a good reception here, and she likes the atmosphere of the place, besides.

After her set, she'll be wandering about the room, sometimes stopping in to watch a particularly high stakes hand of cards - she's still working out some of the rules for herself, though she hasn't admitted that yet - and sometimes flirting her way into getting a patron to buy her a drink. Never mind that she gets them on the house anyway, every little helps so far as she's concerned.

Re: ota!

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He'd known hiring her had been a good idea. Most places didn't hire entertainment of that calibre, at least, not where he came from, but the City made it possible. She was classy, too, which helped, and the crowds had responded favorably to her. It was still too early to see whether he'd ask her to work more nights a week, but he had the feeling that he might.

After her set, he approaches her, nodding in approval. "Good job tonight. You've gotten some admirers, I see." Of course he'd noticed the patrons buying her drinks -- it was his job to notice everything.

[spotlighted]

She looks thoroughly proud of herself. "Thanks. I'm really enjoying performing here, it sure is different than what I'm used to, but in a good way." And then her smile turns a little more shameless at the observation. "One or two, maybe. It's harmless, I'm not the type to go and sleep with a customer."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"I'll be honest with you, Ruby. The way I see it, if you were the type to go and sleep with a customer -- and I'm not saying you are -- it wouldn't be my business unless it harmed my profits. Since you seem like a pretty smart girl, what you do on your off hours aren't my concern."

He worked with enough people who did questionable things in their off hours not to be concerned about what Ruby would get up to. If she wanted to sleep with the patrons, that was her prerogative. If she said she didn't, though, he believed her. Mostly. Believing anyone a hundred percent wasn't something he did.

[spotlighted]

"I appreciate you saying that." Really, she does; she had a good deal of respect for him before, but even more so now, knowing that he was leaving it to her better judgement. "One thing I've learned, though, is that sometimes people can find it difficult to separate my stage face from the reality. Customers come for the me on the stage, and while I'm here I'll give them just that, but it's not something I'm looking for in my free time. Besides, I've seen it go horribly wrong and affect profits and more before. I'm not that dumb."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"Nobody likes putting on a performance all the time," he agrees. The unspoken nuances behind his words could fill volumes -- one might ask, perhaps, how he feels as though he's performing all the time -- but he rarely chooses to delve into his own personal affairs, and he's far more comfortable talking business.

"Like I said, you strike me as intelligent. I've known some dumb people, and you're not one of them."

Some dumb people, indeed. Laughably dumb, in many cases.

[spotlighted]

"I'd like to think I'm intelligent, too." She smiles across at him. Not book smart by any means, but the right kind of smart, and one that seemed to have value here, which she appreciated. She leans in a little, glancing round before her smile turns a little more rueful. "Although, I have to admit that I do feel a little outmatched here. I've never played a hand of poker in my life, I'm not sure I've picked up all the rules yet. It seems like a good thing for me to know."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"You don't know how to play poker?"

That surprises him. Everyone he knows knows how, but then again, he hangs around with a pretty gambling oriented group of people. "I can teach you, if you want. I know a thing or two."

In that he's extremely good at statistics, despite being self-taught, and has an excellent poker face. He's not going to brag though.

[spotlighted]

She shakes her head, blushing a little at the admission. It would probably be the thing for her to know in working here, it was only a matter of time before one of the patrons who'd wanted to buy her a drink wanted a hand of cards too, and she wanted to make sure that the house won. Back home, she'd played a couple of games of bridge, which she had gotten bored of very quickly, but the types of parties she went to had never included anything like poker.

"Would you? That would be simply grand of you."

[candothat]

Chekov had enjoyed the singer's performance immensely in spite of the fact that the musical style was, from his perspective, nearly ancient. The genre's name escapes him, but it's still vaguely familiar--still from some time in Earth history, likely. When he catches her watching a nearby game, it only seems polite to get up and pay her a compliment.

"You have a very beautiful voice," the young man says by way of greeting, holding his drink up in a mock toast. His accent is distinctly Russian and heavy enough to render his words nearly incomprehensible. "What is it called, that kind of music?"

[spotlighted]

It takes her a moment to sift through the accent and work out what he's saying, her eyes narrowing in instinctive suspicion at the Russian lilt, but then her smile broadens at the compliment. "Thank you, I'm very glad you liked it. I do hope you'll come back and hear me again." The question throws her off her guard a little, though. "Haven't you ever heard jazz music before?"

[candothat]

He nods, oblivious to any hint of suspicion. "Jazz--yes, I have a friend who listens to it. It is very old-fashioned when I am from." That could be misinterpreted as a dig at jazz music. Chekov amends his answer with a cheerful, "But I like it, and I would like to come back and hear you sing again."

[spotlighted]

"The first couple of places I auditioned at, before I got the job here, told me that it was very old fashioned too," she says sadly. "It's the only music, so far as I'm concerned. I'm glad you want to come back and hear more." Hear her, her already inflated ego repeated back at her.

Apologies for the late reply!

[candothat]

"Is it current when you are from?" An odd question, but a fair one. The City collects people from a wide array of time periods. "It has a unique sound to it. Different."

no worries! o/

[spotlighted]

"Yeah, it's pretty much the only music I'm used to hearing, really." Then as an afterthought. "I'm from 1952." It still felt very surreal saying that.

[candothat]

Oh. That... makes a lot of sense, actually. Chekov offers a hand to shake, saying, "Pavel Chekov, from the year 2258. It's remarkable, I think, that it has survived so long."

[spotlighted]

She shakes his hand, her eyes widening as he mentions the date. "2258?!" She needs a good moment to process that. "I'm guessing you have flying cars by that point, right?"

[makingastatement]

Al has seen the newest entertainer at the bar a few times during his shift, but has so far left her to her own devices. Undoubtedly all employed eyes have been keeping an eye on her to ensure any doting customers keep a respectable distance, but from what he's seen she seems capable of taking care of herself.

Nice change from the usual kind of high-maintenance girls. Not too bad at the mic either.

"Sound real good, Red," he calls over the counter as she passes by.

[spotlighted]

While she is capable of taking care of herself, it's still a nice feeling, that the others working here are looking out for her. She grins at the compliment and alters her course to come over to the bar, leaning on the bartop and smiling over at him. "Thanks, I really appreciate it. Al, right?"

[makingastatement]

That's it," he stands to sweep a couple of empty glasses out of her way.

"So, how's the venue treating you," the question is asked with a kind sort of sarcasm. He would never downplay any of his investments or places of employment directly, but realistically a casino amongst stranded individuals doesn't seem like a first choice for any entertainer.

[spotlighted]

"I can't complain." She sounds genuine there, not begrudging at all, enjoying the atmosphere of the place and the warm reception she'd received. "I'm used to playing to a bigger crowd, sure, but I haven't been able to just relax and enjoy working like this in a long time."

I am so sorry :(

[makingastatement]

"Not a complainer. You'll do just fine around here," he pours her a glass of what she has been drinking for the evening.

"You ever play in Chicago back whenever you're from?"

not a problem!

[spotlighted]

"I sure hope so." She takes a sip of her drink, then hops up onto a barstool. "Have you been here long? The City, I mean."

"No, I only played New York, really. Although I'd been thinking about moving to Chicago, before I was brought here. I take it that's where you're from?"

[makingastatement]

It takes him a moment to figure-- considering he left his agenda in April of his own time, but arrived here apparently in the month of December, that would make it-- "A little short of two months."

And the time certainly seems to fly.

"Not a bad gig. I'm from Brooklyn, but Chicago's pretty much home now."

[spotlighted]

"That makes you practically a resident in my eyes - I've been here two weeks."

Her smile widens. "Brooklyn I've been to. I'm a Manhattan girl, though; that will always be home, really."