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You had waited, of course, idling near the exit, smoking, the six-pack sweating as it hangs from your fingers by its plastic yoke. You are liable to sate your curiosity, its hunger, which surfaces when you had noticed a familiar face in an unfamiliar scene—unaware, going about her everyday life, unadorned by the glittering, noisy scene of the Heart’s Palace.
Remember passing by her at her table, cards tilted between her fingers; friendly, meaningless chatter your disguise those months ago. She had a reputation amongst the other runners: an unlucky table for the crowd even though they were unlikely to notice before it was too late; like a fly in a trap.
You have your own reputation—more similar than different. Â
“Wouldn’t imagine I’d see miss high-roller shopping here of all places. You’re not lost are you?” You begin to wave with a bit of smirk before spreading your arms, gesturing obliquely at the surrounding area. “This is more a place for penny-pinchers like the rest of us.”
Is it a bit unbecoming? To insert yourself this way, nearly walking beside her? Perhaps it is—though you’ve already done the work to make your point and you can tell she has seen you too and when you set your sights on a prize, you’ll have it. Â
It was exactly what she didn’t want, and Ivory barely bit back a curse when she heard his voice. Anyone even barely associated with the casino was someone she didn’t want to interact with outside of work hours. They only served as a reminder of the shackles that bound her to this damned city, and the sooner she was rid of them the better.
“ I don’t know what made you think that I had any money. If I did you wouldn’t be seeing me on the dealer’s side, would you? Those with money to spare would be on the other side of the table, and those with money and sense would be far far away. ”
This was not completely true. There were plenty who came to the casino night after night in hopes of doubling or tripling their meagre funds, betting on their supposed future earnings, but it was the job of people like her to continue the illusion, lull them into a false sense of hope all the while draining what they were willing to lose in the name of earning.
She can tell he doesn’t mean to leave her alone any time soon, and shoves one of her bags at him. “ If you’re going to keep sticking around, at least make yourself useful. What are you doing around here, anyway? ”
Ivory has never been one to keep tabs on the lives of others, much less someone she was barely acquaintances with, and hadn’t seen him since his ... departure. Looking at him now, it didn’t seem as if he’d had much luck after the temper tantrum at the casino he had caused.















