9th Opportunity :: Action/Video

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[Meyer doesn't always take a day off work. In fact, this is his first day off since the casino opened. That's why, on this lovely afternoon, he's wandering a little aimlessly now, cigarette in hand, looking for something to pass the time that isn't work.

For awhile, he wanders around the area by the fountain, occasionally stopping to sit down and write something down in a tiny spiral bound notebook, then standing up and wandering again. After awhile, though, he seems to get bored, and turns on the video to ask a question -- or rather, make a proposition.]

I'm going for drinks. Does anyone want to come?

[It may be a bit early in the day for drinking, but it's his day off -- this is what people do on their days off, right? With that question posed to the entire City, he strolls off in search of a bar that has relatively inexpensive and plentiful alcohol.]

Comments

[spotlighted]

What would you suggest?

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Italian can be useful. Depends on what you want to do with the language. Depends on who you want to talk to.

[spotlighted]

Italian? I wouldn't have expected such a romantic choice.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Romantic?

[He laughs.]

I have a lot of business associates who are Italian.

[spotlighted]

Sure it is. At least, if every Italian restaurant I've ever visited is an indication. Besides, there's just something about the way it sounds. I've always thought Italy would be a very romantic place to visit, with the piazzas and the gondolas and everything.

...Oh. Yeah, I suppose you would, wouldn't you? Trust you to find a business angle.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

You should meet some of the people I know -- you probably wouldn't find it too romantic after that. I guess the restaurants are, though.

[Everything is a business angle with this one.]

[spotlighted]

I guess not, huh? Mostly I guess it's because I remember the Italy pavilion at the '39 World's Fair very well. I mean, I guess they wanted to paint as romantic a picture as possible, but it certainly did the job.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Maybe it is, and I just know the wrong people.

[spotlighted]

That's always a possibility. Still, the fact that you're willing to learn Italian for them shows dedication, at least.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

It was useful.

[Because obviously he'd never learn anything that wasn't useful.]

You could always learn French, if you already know some phrases.

[spotlighted]

I think I'll pass on that one. Too many memories there.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A nod, and he finishes his drink, immediately ordering another one and glancing over to see whether she needs a refill, too.]

I'd offer to teach you Russian or Yiddish, but I doubt you'd find either of those practical.

[spotlighted]

[She pushes her empty glass across the table too, nodding at the server that she'd like a refill, too.]

I'm not the one looking for something practical.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

Why else would you learn something?

[spotlighted]

For fun. To pass the time. Heck, just because you can.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[A pause as their drinks arrive and he tries to process this.]

Sure. Okay. Like taking a day off from work.

[spotlighted]

Right, exactly like that.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

In that case, there's probably a lot I could learn. I didn't stay in school too long.

[That's... an understatement.]

[spotlighted]

I stayed as long as they made me, but I wasn't much good at it.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

I was good at it, but I thought it was a waste of time.

[spotlighted]

I wished I was good at it. I was homeschooled until I was 14, so my grandfather had complete control of what I learned. Then he threw me into one of the top boarding schools in Connecticut, and I found out pretty quickly that I really wasn't anywhere near the level of most of the other girls. I never really caught up.

She finds that she's pushing the olive round her glass and decides that lighting up a cigarette would be a better way to occupy her hands.]

I guess I've always kind of envied college types.

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[He lights a cigarette, too, and realizes he's already almost done with this drink. Apparently, once he gets started, he can put away quite a bit of alcohol in a short amount of time.]

The way I see it, real world experience is a lot more useful than college. You can teach yourself the stuff you learn in college. College types have a harder time teaching themselves how to live in the real world.

[spotlighted]

Oh, I agree completely. I think I'd have liked the experience, though. It would have been a damn sight better escape than signing up to go off to a warzone, anyway.

[She drains the rest of her drink, immediately calling for another one without even thinking about it.]

[recognize_an_opportunity]

[At least she's keeping up with him on the drinking front. He decides to switch drinks, this time ordering a gin and tonic.]

Sure, if it's an escape you're looking for, anything'd probably be better than a warzone.

[spotlighted]

[She nods agreement, trying not to give to much thought to it. She'd feel terrible unloading her baggage about that time onto him on his one and only day off.]

Still, I got the real world experience that way, at least.