There's Nothing Wrong With Just A Taste Of What You've Paid For

[speakveryclearly]

Date & Time: May 3-5, 2573 (November 12th-14th, Exsiliumside)
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Characters: Kanaya Maryam + Mami Tomoe + Celestia Ludenberg
Summary: Are you tired of white collar crime yet? Too bad, because Kanaya is taking Mami and Celes for three days and two nights, enough that each of them who knows what fun is gets to pick a local recreational activity.
Warnings: One of these locations will be an underground casino

Some of the salarymen leaving the office building might have been irritated by the relentless glow of Tokyo's ever-bright streetlights. Kanaya Maryam, however, was delighted to feel the bulbs' warmth on her skin. She wasn't sure whether this was entirely atmosphere or partly pride swelling in her chest. After all, the work that had been done by herself and the two twin-tailed girls at her side was so satisfying. They might not be bringing home much, but they could offer up the Thanksgiving present of real change. Were presents actually exchanged at Thanksgiving? She didn't know for sure even after her chat with Collette. Oh, well, the party would occur the day after she got back; all would be revealed then.

Eventually, though, the doubts she had about the somewhat shady nature their path was taking needed to be given voice, as she asked the question that had been on her mind for at least the past ten minutes.

"Celestia, where exactly are we going?"

Comments

[trickmyheart]

Yes, it was definitely true that anyone should be suspicious of the rather unwelcoming surroundings Celes had led them into. To be truthful, she found them rather disgusting and dirty herself, but if they wanted enough money to turn this into a luxury vacation ... well, she knew exactly where they could hit the jackpot. When she turns back to glance in Kanaya's direction, her voice is sweet and her face is all smiles.

"You noted that we would have to pay for any activities we indulged in ourselves, did you not, Kanaya-san?"

[muskets]

It hadn't escaped Mami's notice that they were being led into an environment that seemed less than entirely savory. Not that she was particularly worried; likely the worst thing that they could possibly encounter out here would be people looking for trouble, and regular people had stopped striking fear into her heart a long time ago. She had come to places like this countless times, just seeking out witches.

No, it wasn't the location, but more of Celes's question that actually began to raise alarm. "She did. And what bearing does that have on where we're going?"

[speakveryclearly]

"Is this..." Kanaya took a moment to think back to their prior conversations. She had completely given up on using the surroundings to provide context (these enormous signs with their symbols that largely weren't Roman or Daedric), but Celes was a native of the area, so it was undoubtable that the other girl possessed at least some knowledge of how to conduct--

"Oh! Is this a mahjongg parlor?" She lit up with the realization, which highlighted how she had no idea what the game of mahjongg actually was. Perhaps it was best played in dim light, with clouds of cigar smoke.

[trickmyheart]

Celes gave Mami a smile.

"By that logic, we would then have to obtain money in order to participate in any activities, wouldn't you agree?"

Her tone was condescending, but that probably wasn't new, at this point. She slipped into an alley, raising a hand to knock on a very suspicious-looking door. But before she did, she turned to the both of them, smile as bright (and fake) as ever.

"Watch yourselves. This is the place where the greatest fortunes are at stake ... but those with the greatest fortunes are the most desperate of us all."

[muskets]

She wasn't entirely sure that she was comfortable with this. No - she knew that she was uncomfortable with this, but she wasn't going on bail out here, now, not when she was actually enjoying the company of her two companions.

"Ah," she remarked quietly, clearing her throat and attempting not to look a little startled, "then we should be the least desperate people there." It was a joke - sort of flat - before she continued: "Are you sure they'll even let us in?"

[speakveryclearly]

Kanaya laughed a little at Mami's commentary. She almost felt a little better that Celes lead the way while Mami seemed doubtful; it could fuel a shaky sense of shared moral superiority. At least they would be generating funds through something vaguely resembling their own labor, and not outright appropriating possessions without permission. Theft was, in her experience, a very human crime - after all, wasn't it the foundation of their "supply runs"?

"I kind of doubt we would have come all the way out here for a location that wasn't certain to be permissive to the sufficiently charming entrant." That being, as the one shoulder she shrugged towards her indicated, the lovely Ms. Ludenberg.

[trickmyheart]

"They will," Celes replied simply, before knocking on the door. A small plate slid open, and she proceeded to have a quick muttered conversation with the man behind the door, like something out of a movie. Suddenly the door was unlocked and opened, and she turned to the others, gesturing for them to follow.

"Come along, now. We wouldn't want to keep him waiting."

[muskets]

Mami's eyebrows lifted subtly again, her posture straightening a little as she followed behind Celes with an expression that was faintly dubious. "Of course not. That would be rude." There was a faint air of exasperation to her tone. "I've never been to a place like this. I'll just follow your lead, then."

She cast a look to Kanaya then, trying to gauge her comfort level here.

[speakveryclearly]

Kanaya kept her face calm as she followed Celes. While a holographically covered rainbow drinker was not a light source, she still had instinctive misgivings about going into a dark place and not personally wanting to attract attention. At least anyone looking would be able to tell Celes was the ringleader in this endeavor. When Miami's eyes met hers, she responded with a sideways (erring on the side of downward rather than upward) twitch of her lips. Though she didn't speak out loud, there was the suggestion in her eyes: "Well, we made it in. Why leave now?"