When The Chips are Down

Occupatus

There isn't really a call time for getting to the casino. Everyone either lives in Las Nevadas and just is there when needed, or they leave home early to get to work before the first wave of people come in for the afternoon hours. It was around four, the casino was to open its doors back up at 6. With the large size of Las Nevadas, it was only common sense for everyone to come in early to work as fast as possible to get everything ready to go. 

Purpled was not one to stay on the property for long. He would be the last one to check in for work and the first one to leave. Today was different, he had stayed overnight working the hotel bar. No one was available the previous day so he decided to take it, as working the hotel bar was much more quiet as majority of costumers were at the casino for the majority of the night. He decided to spend the morning cleaning up the hotel and escorting any loiterers around the area off of the property. He wasn't much of a talker to anyone on the team, he more or less kept to himself and kept everything in order when people weren't available. He almost got called in to work as a dealer the previous night, as Foolish wasn't available, so he had to take Sam's place at the bar. Out of everyone, Purpled liked Sam, he was always making sure Purpled was comfortable working in Las Nevadas. It was a nice gesture, but Sam was just inherently nice to everyone, but he Purpled in check.

"Hey, Purpled, good to see you making sure my hotel isn't a wreck. How're you holding up?" It was Quackity, making his daily rounds around Las Nevadas. Purpled looked up from the front lobby desk. "I'm fine, anything new?" Purpled had frustration towards Quackity, as their past kind of muddled a chance at a good friendship. "Oh, straight to business, I see. Well, I'll tell you quickly, seeing as you don't want me here, in my hotel." "Here he goes, next thing you know he's going to bring up how great this whole thing is."  "You know, you have such a great potential here, and I think it's taking you a while to see how it benefits you. You're going to be a big man up with the greats, and just like Mt. Olympus, this is a haven for only the greats. You belong-" 

Purpled laughed, Quackity did this quite a bit, but this time it annoyed him bit more. "Y'know what, can we please stop with this. I'm sick and tired of you trying to butter me up so we can be 'buddy buddy' but I just don't want to hear it. Just tell me my duties for today, so I can get ready and be left alone before I have to go be fake to all these people. You know I'm not happy, you were a part of that derailing of my life, so stop it. Please, it's better if we just let it go, and just go about our business." Purpled, though directly throwing his words to Quackity, never once looked up from his work at the lobby desk, he never gave Quackity the satisfaction of holding eye contact. "Security, since you were unable to do that yesterday." Quackity understood Purpled would never really cave into officially joining Las Nevadas, but he knew he would stay. Quackity was right after all, if Purpled didn't have Las Nevadas, he would have nothing. "Alright, I'll leave you to it." "Thank you." Purpled still didn't look up, but Quackity wasn't moving. 

Still not looking up, Purpled put down what he was doing and sighed. They stood in the hotel lobby, Quackity just analyzing Purpled. A pause that only lasted about ten seconds felt like five minutes. "I'm sorry man, I shouldn't have pushed your buttons like that." Purpled finally looked up at Quackity, but he had already turned around and started to leave the hotel lobby. Quackity doesn't apologize, Purpled knew that, everyone knew that. I guess he's changing, or maybe, they're all changing. Still he had worked to do, he finished his work in the lobby and headed out to the Main Street. There he stood in front of the fountain, the Casino to his left the the main street out to his right. 

He stood there for quite a while, as people started shuffling around the Main Street waiting for the hour to pass so the casino could open. "Hey! Look who's out here!" It was Foolish and Fundy walking out of the restaurant. "I never see you out here a lot, enjoying the view?" Fundy laughed, could tell Purpled was a little happy to see the two. Foolish chimed in, "Hey, I'm working dealer tonight and from the looks of things I believe some newcomers are coming to the casino tonight." They all smiled- they knew what this meant, it was something fun they would do from time to time. Purpled felt inclined to join this time, he laughed as these two never seemed to win these bets. "Alright then, I'll go with my usual bet of loser gives $30 to everyone." He always went with this, as this usually meant at least two people were giving him thirty bucks." "I say loser has to take my shift if I get put on security." Fundy hated working security, so anything to get him out. "Foolish, you better put something good on the line," Purpled liked putting the pressure on and of course Fund adding on to him, "Especially since you said newcomers were coming." They stood waiting for Foolish to think of something good.

"Alright, alright, I got a good one." He looked at both of them and smiled. "Loser has to make everyone breakfast tomorrow." Fundy and Purpled groaned, as mornings weren't most ideal for waking up living in Las Nevadas. Foolish put his hand in, then Fundy, and reluctantly Purpled put his in. "Alright, good dealing boys, now let's go." They headed into the casino together, laughing about the night of bets ahead. Carefully, making sure no one got in with them, they entered the main doors of the casino to start their shift.

The afternoon rush came and went and Purpled was relived that no one was being difficult in the casino. Security was a boring job, but it let him enjoy the view of the casino and the people it  held inside for the night. Foolish managing Poker rounds, Fundy working roulette, Sam running around with drinks and food, Charlie helping people work the maze of slot machines, and Quackity at the bar. This was the busy that Purpled liked. This felt like home to him, he looked down at Quackity, they waved at each other and went back to work.

This was home, for the time being.