[OPEN LOG] A LITTLE PARTY NEVER KILLED NOBODY

[makingastatement]

When; July 4th after this
Rating; Links are NSFW due to language and sexy hooker flashmobs. Other than language, situations shouldn't get above PG-13.
Characters; It's a party-- come one, come all!
Summary; Surprise birthday party for Meyer Lansky. Everyone is welcome!
Log;

Lucky's casino is busy as usual on Thursday, but those inside will notice that the stage normally reserved for entertainment is shrouded in a large curtain. The owner is seated, prepared to listen to the audition of a buxom blond who seems shy and has no real command over the stage. After a deep breath, she begins to sing in a voice barely above a whisper:

"Happy birthday to you~"

Before she can really get into the meat of the song, the curtain rises to reveal an unusual spectacle. Women of all sizes and shapes dressed comfortably in next to nothing. Those inside the casino can see them make a musical entrance. They seem to dote especially on the owner, who appears to be hoisted in his seat by two beefy men in shiny speedos. They carry him closer to what appears to be a cake.

It's not.

The exterior slips away revealing a mounted pole and another woman who has no problem steadying her stilettos on the arms of the chair the owner is being held captive in from time to time.

Looks like it's SOMEONE'S BIRTHDAY

All varieties of business continue as usual after the reveal. The women and men will flirt with anyone who has the means to earn their attention. There's even a new racehorse to the circuit being promoted out back! Come evening, patriotic Americans launch fireworks into the night sky. So come! There's good company, gambling, drinks and dancing-- eat, drink and be merry in honor of the holiday and Meyer Lansky's birthday!

Comments

Who wants to come hang out with the birthday boy once he's actually having fun

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He couldn't sulk forever. Nor could he be confused forever. There may be a lecture forthcoming for Al and Theo, maybe the next day, but for now, he's making the best of it. In fact, as he sits on a barstool, a couple empty glasses next to him, he looks downright relaxed: jacket off, tie loosened, sleeves rolled up. It's a strange look, for him. It's probably disconcerting for anyone that knows him.

There'd been a girl sitting next to him, or maybe a series of girls -- he hadn't exactly been great about keeping everyone's name straight so far, and as the night wears on, it becomes increasingly unlikely that he'll commit anyone else's name to memory unless he already knows it -- but she'd drifted off, and now he's sitting contentedly by himself, finally looking as though he fits in at this party.

Re: Who wants to come hang out with the birthday boy once he's actually having fun

[water_wine_wizard]

"That is a horrible tie," Laruna says sitting next to him. She's got a drink of something in her hand and has been enjoying herself.

She'd danced with some men. Danced with some women. Gambled a bit. Drank a lot. She figured it was time to pay her respects to the birthday boy.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"It is, isn't it?" he agrees, turning to her with a surprisingly contented smile on his face. "It was a present, and it seemed appropriate for the way the evening's turned out."

It's a horrid tie. But he finds himself strangely attached to it, perhaps because it's so awful. He pushes aside some of the empty glasses on the bar so that she can set her drink down if she'd like to.

[water_wine_wizard]

"I'd be worried about the intent of people who gave you that tie. And you think it's turned out that badly?"

She does set the drink down and looks about her. "I wish I could have a party like this."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"Badly, no. Hectically, yes."

He thinks the tie could be classed as hectic, perhaps. And perhaps he hadn't been enjoying the night much until recently -- though it had all been very amusing, in a befuddling and not entirely logical way -- but now he seems much more at ease. He nods at her.

"You could. You just need to have the right kind of connections."

By which, of course, he means she needs to work with people who take a considerable amount of time and effort and money to set this sort of thing up.

[water_wine_wizard]

"I could see that, yes. It's definitely hectic." She leans over to look at it more closely.

"Connections. Right. Who should I talk to about it?" There's a laugh. "I'd never be able to get away with something like this back home."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Remarkably, he's not even complaining about the sudden invasion of his personal space -- he usually has an abnormally large space bubble. "You know Al? He'd probably be willing to arrange something like this for you, although I guess it comes off better if it's a surprise."

And it had been a surprise, in all possible ways.

[water_wine_wizard]

Pfft Personal bubbles happen to other people.

"Al. Al. Al. Oh! Yes. The bartender. I've seen him a few times, never talked to him much. And I don't want a surprise I just want all nearly naked people."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"You should talk to him. I'm sure he'd like you."

That could really mean anything, but he does think they'd get along, somehow. Perhaps it's that they both have a certain degree of shamelessness to them.

"As for the nearly naked people, there're plenty to go around."

He gestures around the room.

[water_wine_wizard]

"Yes, but it'd be more fun for my birthday," she agrees. "I wish I knew earlier."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"I'm pretty sure something could be arranged, although I don't know if I'll offer the casino as a venue for another party anytime soon."

It really is very chaotic in there. There're plenty of people he's never even seen before.

[water_wine_wizard]

"Nah. You'd need some thing less filled with stuff. Maybe you could get a building and rent it out for parties like this," she suggests.

It's good for business, Meyer. Now people know the Casino exists and they'll come back.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"Hosting parties isn't exactly my forte, I'm afraid. Anything you see here was orchestrated by other people. I'm just the recipient of..."

He gestures lazily, looking for a word. "Their generosity."

Generosity seems fair, given the trouble that has obviously been gone to to make this place look so wild.

[makingastatement]

A trip to the back to replenish some supplies quickly becomes concerning. He's all for a light atmosphere, but some behaviors are troubling, especially when he can't seem to find their source. He returns to the casino floor and spots Meyer in his seat.

"Hey."

He pulls up a nearby seat.

"You scare everybody off already?"

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"I don't think so," he says, almost languidly, giving Al a slight smile. "I'm just having a drink and enjoying myself."

Enjoying himself. What a novel concept. Although he really does seem to be, from the smile and his more lighthearted tone.

[makingastatement]

It's a bit strange, really, not only to hear the words come out of Meyer's mouth, but to also see it in his demeanor.

"Yeah, I can tell," there would normally be amusement in his voice, but instead he speaks in a low, disparaging way, eyes searching the crowds for a source. He's brought most of these people here and any actions on their part reflect on him. All fun aside, he'd prefer to keep what he has established for himself looking clean.

"Not to impose on your good time here, but we gotta talk for a minute."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"What're we talking about?"

Normally, he'd be a little more concerned about it, but right now, he can't bring himself to be, despite the obvious seriousness in Al's tone. To his credit, he does set down his glass and look at Al with a raised eyebrow.

"There a problem?"

[makingastatement]

There's some reassurance that the alcohol has provided him a cushion against any lashing out. He's seen Meyer work enough to know he's not the sort to snap, but this particular accusation in his own place of business...it could prove to be more than a simple issue.

"I seen some things around tonight. I don't know who brought it in or who they're pushing for but--"

There's no wait to dress it up, really.

"Someone's peddling some pretty heavy shit."

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"What kind of shit?"

He almost looks amused by the accusation -- which shouldn't be the response to something like that, not really. "Where'd you find it?"

He has the sneaking suspicion that he knows exactly what Al's found, but he's not about to call attention to himself without some reasonable cause for doing so.

[makingastatement]

It's definitely not the reaction that he's expecting, even factoring in this new, mellow nature.

"Dope. There's a pretty fuckin' hefty stash of it in the back room. It doesn't look like they got into anything but I coulda--."

It seems strange now, when the words come out of his mouth, like he's missed some major point. Luciano was the dope pusher of the duo, the one who could really get his hands dirty. That wouldn't have translated over here, not almost in plain sight and not under his nose...

"I mean-- it ain't supposed to be there, right?"

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He doesn't answer the question, initially. Instead, he reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out a little bag of heroin, setting it on the bar, looking at it, and then giving Al a meaningful look.

"It's supposed to be there."

Charlie might have outwardly been the one who was more invested in the heroin industry, but he himself knew a fair bit about it. He's never been the type to make any knowledge of illegal business clear, but that doesn't mean he isn't involved in as much illegal business as he can be at any given time.

[makingastatement]

The bag on the bar earns a long, silent glance before he kneads the area of his face under his nose tightly with one hand. There's only one thing worse than looking like an idiot: looking like an idiot in front of a business associate. Anyone who is familiar with his ego knows that he isn't a big fan.

"So you wanna clue me in on how long this has been going on?"

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"Not long. I've been wanting to have a discussion with you about it, actually, although I'm not exactly sure this is the right time."

It's really amazing how relaxed he feels, even with all the chaos going on around them, even with this discussion happening. He can tell Al's displeased, but at the moment, he's not exactly bothered.

[makingastatement]

"Yeah, I'll check back the next time you get a drop-off," there's some biting sarcasm in the remark that he can't bother to hide.

"You're asking us how we keep a few bells and whistles under wraps-- what the fuck."

Imagine if he had booted someone out or made an accusation prematurely. It's easy to think the worst when a bad hand is already dealt.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

He sighs, and begins to open the little bag of heroin. He's going to need some of this, to get through this conversation, he can already tell.

"Like I said, I wanted to get you involved in this, but I wanted to talk to you when Theo wasn't around."

He doesn't want to cut Theo in on the deal; it's nothing personal, but he likes to keep his business small.