Chapter 7b: Jerome U and the Blue Monkey

[The Bindoner]

Nālani comforts herself with the thought that she certainly doesn't like a professional. It doesn't help. That only works in private games, the house doesn't care.

She takes a break to finish the beer and observe her surroundings. What is Arnwolf doing? Tcha! She goes to the bar to get a read of the room drink. Something sealed.

[BackworldTraveller]

Nalani
How are you doing this read?

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

I thought you would be playing poker not Blackjack. That way the croupier has no influence unless he knows the cards prior to dealing and you bluff, check or raise against opponents in the hand

He can see the sweat beads of concentration upon the brow of Nalani. He flirts a little with the courtesan before shooting her away, coins in hand.

"Another time maybe. You're a swell girl but tonight I am more interested in 'tall, dark and handsome'. Cavaleiros who goes by the name of Musa. If you know him send him my way."

He moves away from the table and stands next to Nalani. "You've shown yourself to be an easy touch. Guys watching will fancy laying a bet agaunst you. Wanna play with the big boys though you gotta get in the private game upstairs. Might need to have a few more credits on you or have something of value to leverage into the game."

[The Bindoner]

I think Streetwise is appropriate to this venue. Given the reputation and appearance.

Part of the reason she is here ( tertiary to making money and the pleasure of the game ) is to look for useful contacts. All sorts of interesting people like to gamble. Besides, the Cavalheiros have been a problem, and this is Nepenthe territory.

Arnwulf

I thought you would be playing poker not Blackjack. That way the croupier has no influence unless he knows the cards prior to dealing and you bluff, check or raise against opponents in the hand

He moves away from the table and stands next to Nalani. "You've shown yourself to be an easy touch. Guys watching will fancy laying a bet agaunst you. Wanna play with the big boys though you gotta get in the private game upstairs. Might need to have a few more credits on you or have something of value to leverage into the game."

Yes, I have probably posed as a punter long enough.

[BackworldTraveller]

Arnwulf
"Another time maybe. You're a swell girl but tonight I am more interested in 'tall, dark and handsome'. Cavaleiros who goes by the name of Musa. If you know him send him my way."

The girl looks at you - disappointed? No Cavaleiros here darling. But Marco is 'tall, dark and handsome' - maybe he'll be what you're looking for.

She heads back into the main bar.

[BackworldTraveller]

Nalani
Nalani, INT+Streetwise: [2d6]=9+4
The people at your table were middle managers and ships crew - indeed most of the clientele look that way. And most are quite determined on playing seriously if not well. Not a fun crowd. You check with Arnwulf, but the only person who's gone upstairs was a man who came down to sooth the woman so unceremoniously abandoned by the croupier earlier. You'd say it was a slow night or the place doesn't survive off gambling and girls alone. Indeed, given the number of staff, even a busy night might not be enough to cover their costs.

The Gambling Hall appears to have cameras over each table - not too surprising - and the entrances seem to have emergency doors inside them in case of pressure loss - more unusual this deep into the rock. The tables themselves are quite well maintained, and the carpets well cared for but not quite new. The Croupiers are older than some places you've been - well dressed, smart. Definitely not advertising themselves as available - unlike Arnwulf's erstwhile companion. And the stolid individual at the bottom of the stairs looks suave and serious. He's got that sheen you get from the older bio-tech subdermals under the slightly stiff suit - probably armoured. And he has a quick-draw holster with a classic ID-9 Autopistol. Definitely high-end muscle and worryingly more than the place really deserves at face value.

Standing near the stairs to the fire exit, there sounds to be a busy thoroughfare down there - people coming and going. And the smells suggest that the exit from the building connects to a fast-food kitchen or similar. You'd have to look the details up on a city plan - if you could find one that showed interiors.

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

"Well you told me you wanted to earn some extra money. Gambling is always a risk, especially in unregulated dives. You can be a big fish in a little pool downstairs or swim with the sharks upstairs.

Does the Captain know you are tying to make inroads with local cartels? I presume not and this is a side hustle. You know I've got your back here and at the ship.

You've just got your arse back in the pilots seat. But don't offer that up for a spanking. Queen don't need to be used for shuttling favours around the Belt if you get caught with your pants down.

Now, go knock em dead."

The ex-marine counsels Nalani with some advice regarding not losing so much money that you get indebted to the drug mafia.

He eyeballs the bouncer at the foot of the stairs and waits for Nalani to make decisions what she wants to do.

[The Bindoner]

Arnwulf

"Well you told me you wanted to earn some extra money. Gambling is always a risk, especially in unregulated dives. You can be a big fish in a little pool downstairs or swim with the sharks upstairs.

Does the Captain know you are tying to make inroads with local cartels? I presume not and this is a side hustle. You know I've got your back here and at the ship.

You've just got your arse back in the pilots seat. But don't offer that up for a spanking. Queen don't need to be used for shuttling favours around the Belt if you get caught with your pants down.

Now, go knock em dead."

The ex-marine counsels Nalani with some advice regarding not losing so much money that you get indebted to the drug mafia.

He eyeballs the bouncer at the foot of the stairs and waits for Nalani to make decisions what she wants to do.

Quietly: Do not think I look for opportunities to run packages for criminals here, that is not my object. We do need to make friends, and confidential communications services can be a good way to make them, but I have better ways to contract such work than coming here trolling for business.

Dropping into Belter accent: Queen is not the ship for that anyway. Nah, doubt anyone risk it. Heavy people looking at her. That's something I hope to hear about.

Smiling: Good to know we still have each other's backs though. Hope is needed more on the ship than here, yah?

I mean to ask before, not find time, this Tiberius, you know him? I want his help for a friend, but I just met the man. You rate him?

Back in her formal Galanglic, loud enough to be heard : These tables are not entertaining, there is no skill in the game, merely luck.

Approaching the bouncer: Tell your boss Kitsune wants a seat at the game.

Nālani activates her sleeve tattoo, the head and forelegs of the fox showing below the sleeve of her top as she pulls it up "absentmindedly".

Edited with extra text.

Twice.

[BackworldTraveller]

Bouncer
Sorry miss, no game today - Invitation only.

You know someone to vouch for you?

Ah no.

But the tables here are open.

And please ensure you man doesn't block the seats - play, drink or leave.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani smiles amiably at the bouncer and addresses him in a friendly manner:

Of course you do not know me, you are security, not management.

You are doing your job, I understand. Keep the punters in their place. I am not just a bored Spacer looking for fun though.

Dropping her formal voice for a moment, leaning back to show herself off: I look like these wage-slaves and salary-men, Brother?

Back in Formal: I do not advertise where I'm going to be in advance, there was no way to arrange an invitation. Why not tell your employer I'm here and they can decide whether to offer me a seat?

Nālani is trying to Persuade the guy not to just brush her off. I have no such skill, so take that text as an indication of intent rather than verbatim dialogue

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

"So let's talk about that invitation. Perhaps if Joachim Lopez is at the table he would be interested to know this young lady could pilot him a lot more discreetly and safely than engaging a ship that specialised in 'perishables'.

And Zid Umale might like to further his investigations with an 'Ace in the Hole'. Tapping into the reserves of archived data. Maybe the architects of Jinga Busai's botched kidnapping might consider negotiations over a table.

I really don't know which men of influence and provincial power play behind your closed doors but each are open to new avenues of business and a few stakes might demonstrate all the vouching of confidence they need."

He looks the bouncer in the eye seeing if any of the hooks register and waits for a response or rejection.

[BackworldTraveller]

Bouncer
To Nalani the bouncer is polite: We are careful who we allow into the game upstairs. I'm sorry - no recommendation, no entry. Perhaps you could provide some details so that we can test your bona-fides.

The bouncer manages to keep an inscrutable face as he suggests (to Arnwulf) that...
Putting all those people into one card-game would be interesting. Short but interesting.

And then he asks...
I'm sorry, I'm not sure who you are?

[Bluetongue]

Arnwulf

It seems that the game is closed for today. Unless Nalani wants to press her case he is fine with another beer and leaving the joint.

He doesn't address the bouncer.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani sighs. I do not, as I said, advertise. My name will recommend me, to the people who know it. Mention it.

Activating her burner to narrow-cast its ID: This number will work for a day or two. After that look for "Zenko" on FurAnon, there will be a new number.

Irritated she picks another table and tries to earn back her stake.

Her experience at the previous table gives her some slight insight into the way the game goes here, enough to refine the strategy she used before hopefully.

Gambling: [2d6]=6 +1 Skill, +2 Int =9

Edited with gambling roll

[BackworldTraveller]

Nalani
The croupier makes some elementary mistakes (Snake-eyes rolled!) and Nalani recovers her stake with ease...Does she press her luck or turn in for the night? It's been a busy day.
END roll if you choose to continue.

Arnwulf
Nalani seems to be playing well, and the Croupier seems to be watching the cleavage of one of the other punters - a mistake that Nalani makes the most of with a couple of good hands. A slightly older woman approaches Arnwulf after about 30 minutes and says So, Kitsune wants to pay with the big boys. She back on the Queen? If so, we will look further. But please - when she comes again, read the signs - Madhuri told us of your illiteracy and to get upstairs you will be searched. A second mistake will not be treated lightly.

[The Bindoner]

Nālani came here to make money, of course she stays at the table where her luck changed. Engrossed in the game and trusting Arnwolf to be her eyes on the room she doesn't notice his conversation.

She keeps to her strategy and looks for opportunities to make the woman in the low-cut top lean across the table.

End: [2d6]=11 ( whew, no need to buy a stim )

Gambling: [2d6]=7

[BackworldTraveller]

Nalani
By 3am, Nalani has managed to get ahead...25 credits ahead! (The Croupier has improved their play.) By the time she has tipped the croupier that will be Cr5...Not even enough to cover Arnwulf's bar bills. But the interaction with the player next to you is interesting. The missing Croupier is going to get fired for vanishing as he did. Even if he was ill he shouldn't have just gone. This makes you think that he did look familiar, but you really can't place him.

On checking her phone for messages from Assana also finds a message from the Captain - Breakfast at 07:30!

Assana's message (from 12:30am) says: Cameras now broadcast so can't trace. Swimming pool is good. Room service is nice but food too rich. Paradiso hack amateurish. Even police can probably trace. Got confirm on signed papers. Going to sleep.

[The Bindoner]

But the interaction with the player next to you is interesting. The missing Croupier is going to get fired for vanishing as he did. Even if he was ill he shouldn't have just gone. This makes you think that he did look familiar, but you really can't place him

Nālani is intrigued, and annoyed at not being to recall the person. She enquires ( of the players and the croupier in general ) : Has he been here long? I think he did something similar at another casino I was visiting. What was his name again?

Leaving the Blue Monkey Nālani chats to Arnwolf:

La, a lot of work for no immediate profit. An investment though, that will pay off later.

Thank you for joining me. I really appreciate it, I only hope you were not too bored.

Back at the hotel she hastens to bed for a short but deep sleep before setting out to the Queen in the morning dressed in her utility jumpsuit, make-up free and with her hair still patterned from the night before. Knowing she will be late she sets up a holo-link to the ship's computer and attends remotely as she travels.

[BackworldTraveller]

Nālani is intrigued, and annoyed at not being to recall the person. She enquires ( of the players and the croupier in general ) : Has he been here long? I think he did something similar at another casino I was visiting. What was his name again?

Apparently he's called Don. Been about for a couple of years, on and off. You should ask the girls if you want to know his background. They'll drink that stuff in just in case its worth money!
But shortly after this, the young distraction runs out of chips and departs - and your game plan really starts to come apart so that was your cue to pack it in.