Voice || Paranoia, paranoia, everybody's coming to get me...

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[When he turns on his communicator, he eschews video and only posts voice, his tone sounding more than a little on edge.]

Given the recent... developments... the hours of operation at my casino, Lucky's, are going to change quite a bit. For better or for worse, we'll be following curfew. We'll open earlier in the day to compensate for it, although I don't know too many people who like to gamble in the mid-afternoon.

[A pause.]

That should have been obvious, but seeing what's been happening to people around the City, I thought I'd make it crystal clear, yes? I can't shake this feeling that everything we say, everything we do, there's somebody listening. It's...

[A longer pause, where it sounds like he's practically holding his breath.]

Did anyone hear that? I think someone's watching me.

[[OOC: Paranoia was never a large leap for this one to make, anyway. He's only slightly paranoid now, but will grow more so over the day. Have... fun?]]

Comments

[paving]

A casino, huh . . .

Is there an age requirement?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

There's...

[A long pause. This could be some kind of attempt at entrapment, trying to figure out if he's breaking a law, although he's not sure any official in the City has ever cared about his casino before. After some consideration, he answers.]

No age limit, no.

[paving]

Okay, that's great, then. I'm going to go and give it a try.

[A casino without an age requirement! Nagito's got luck on his side - but he always has. He's going to sweep all of the tables and slot machines clean, that's for sure. The guy's a walking embodiment of good luck.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Sure, you're welcome to.

How old're you?

[Not that he particularly cares, as far as legality goes. Gambling's illegal entirely where he's from, after all. On the other hand, he's kind of curious.]

[paving]

Thanks!

I'm just sixteen. [Or so he thinks.] Normally I wouldn't even ask if the casino's got an age requirement, but considering that everything here in the City looks foreign . . . I'm not sure if the same laws even apply.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I don't know that the City has many specific laws, but given what's been going on lately, I don't blame you for being cautious.

[paving]

It's making everyone anxious, huh? This whole atmosphere of tension . . .

Well, we shouldn't let it get us down.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

People're being thrown in jail. Hard not to notice that.

[paving]

Yeah, you're right.

Still, we must not lose hope. I'm sure they'll be freed soon, especially if they're innocent.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A quiet chuckle.]

You really think it works that way?

[Maybe it works that way wherever this kid comes from. And maybe he's being excessively paranoid, but he's known a lot of 'innocent' people who ended up in jail.]

[paving]

[Nagito shook his head.]

There's a lot of despair going around, and it's not that easy. But giving into it can wreck your life, and if people want to do something, they need to have hope. If you don't have hope, then you'll just give up.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Sure.

[He can agree with that, to some extent, at least.]

That's why I left the casino open. People need something to distract them, too.

[paving]

That's really nice of you, sir.

I should introduce myself. I'm Komaeda Nagito. It's nice to meet you.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Nice to meet you. Name's...

[He has to pause. Normally, he doesn't mind giving out his real name in the City, but today he has an uncomfortable, uneasy feeling. He tries to shake it off as best he can, and avoids the urge to use one of his many pseudonyms.]

Meyer Lansky.

[paving]

[Nagito noticed the pause.]

Is everything okay?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Sure. I just can't help wondering how much our communications are being monitored.

[paving]

Well . . .

Probably most of them are, if not all of them.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

That concerns me. The possible... misinterpretation of what we might say.

[paving]

Are you famous? You'd only hide your name if your name meant something to people.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I'm no more famous here than anyone else is.

[paving]

Okay, so you were famous where you came from, then. Must have been a force of habit to hesitate before giving your name, right?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I wouldn't call myself 'famous' where I come from, either.

[Although he knows that his name will become a lot more recognizable later in his life. And he knows that there're certain people back home who would recognize his name immediately -- and not favorably, either.]

I think it's wise for all of us to keep a... low profile.

[paving]

Okay, I get what you mean. Sorry if I seemed really pushy!

[He knew something was up, but hey, he wasn't going to pry unless it was important.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

No apologies necessary. This has been a strange week -- makes people ask strange questions.

[Although his latent sense of paranoia is only getting stronger, especially since the kid seems to know something, or at least suspect something, about him.]

[paving]

[Nagito had to be smart - if you spent most of your free time investigating murders, there was no choice, really.]

It's not always this strange here, I hope? I just got here a few weeks back, so I don't know the whole picture yet.