Video/Action

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He's hoping, somehow, that someone'll show up that he wants to see. In the meantime, he's keeping himself busy, getting the casino cleaned up and ready to be opened at five. That gives him a chance to pause and address the video, though.]

The majority of you have probably already been welcomed to the City. Those that haven't, well, if you need a drink and some gambling to keep you entertained, I'd suggest coming on down to my casino. It's called Lucky's, you can't miss it, and maybe we'll offer drinks specials tonight, just because people need something to deal with being stuck in a strange city for a weekend.

[A long pause as he looks away from the camera for a moment, and then back.]

And if I know you... from home... it'd be nice if you'd drop by.

Comments

Re: action;

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[There's a grin spreading across his face and he doesn't even bother to hide it. He's glad to see her, undeniably so.]

Welcome back. Call it selfish, but I'm always happy when you come back to visit.

[glamorsongstress]

[She returns his grin, looking very pleased that he's still here and still remembers her.]

I was a little scared you'd have gone. I went looking for another friend of mine before I came here, but there's no trace of him in the City at all, I'd hate it if you'd left as well.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Who were you looking for? Sit down, have a drink.

[He's still smiling.]

I'm pretty sure I'll be here forever, so don't be too worried about that.

[glamorsongstress]

Andrew Ryan. I don't think you knew him. Tall guy, kind of imposing. It's just as well, though, really, he always hated being here. It just seems like the amount of friends I have here is dwindling a little.

[She hops up onto a barstool, leaning back casually as though she feels right at home here, and has never been away.]

I wouldn't be so sure about that. You're still around in New York in my time, remember?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You've still got me and Al here. Who else do you need?

[It's said casually, but that's because he knows exactly what she means. There're no promises of people sticking around in a place like this, and it can be disconcerting.]

Yeah, yeah, don't remind me. I'm still in New York in your time, except I'm an old man.

[glamorsongstress]

True, I still have my boys. [She smiles somewhat nostalgically.]

Hey, better an old man than dead. And you're not in prison, either. I didn't tell you what happens to Al, did I?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You didn't, but if I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that given your previous statement, prison sounds like a reasonable supposition.

[glamorsongstress]

You know what they get him for? Tax evasion. [She can't help but laugh just a little.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I keep telling people this, and nobody listens to me -- if you want to avoid getting arrested, you do your damn taxes.

[glamorsongstress]

I guess it doesn't make much of a difference here though, huh? Unless these so-called gods have taken to taxing you all instead of cursing you.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I wish they would. At least I know how to fill out tax forms to avoid trouble -- you can't avoid the curses at all.

[glamorsongstress]

Did I miss any really terrible ones? Did they take your cigarettes away again?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Oh, believe me, nothing that awful. You'd have heard about it if they had. All the curses blur together now... it's hard to remember exactly what's happened since you left.

[That's probably a bad sign.]

[glamorsongstress]

[She looks at him rather harshly.]

You're talking as though you've given up, like you're just resigned to spending your life here and it doesn't matter if they curse you or not.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

To some extent, I have to be realistic. It's been nearly a year. It'd be ridiculous to sit around hoping for something that may never happen.

[glamorsongstress]

Well sometimes you can't just sit around, you have to get up and take what you want. Especially something so important as freedom from tyrannical self-proclaimed deities.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Well, regarding the self-proclaimed deities, there has been a revolution, of sorts. We're now ruled by a group who call themselves Anonymous, and who assure us they want to get out of here just as much as we do.

[glamorsongstress]

I don't like the sound of that either. Being ruled over by someone who won't even tell you their name. I suppose they chose that so that people could identify with them, make them think they're representing all of you. Well, you didn't elect them, and you shouldn't have to stand for it. Not that I'd really know what to do about them, since there isn't a way home even if you got rid of them.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Some people claim they'll find a way to get out of here soon enough. I'm not so sure.

[glamorsongstress]

I wish I could take you back with me. Not that 1952 is anything particularly special, but at least it's not this place.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I think I'd enjoy going back home with you -- so long as we could arrange me never, ever meeting the version of me that's still around in 1952. That would be far too bizarre.

[glamorsongstress]

I'm sure that's possible. I've never met you in 1952, after all. You're just a name I hear bandied around occasionally.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I bet your name gets bandied around in 1952 a lot more than mine does.

[glamorsongstress]

Oh, I'm not all that famous, in the grand scheme of things. Especially not since I left New York. But I think I prefer it this way. My name was getting bandied around for all the wrong reasons.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

"All the wrong reasons." You make it sound so scandalous.

[He's kind of teasing, just for the hell of it, but then...]

I'd prefer not to be famous, too. Better to be unknown and content.that way.