Post by Croupier on Feb 4, 2022 21:15:01 GMT -8
Dan stared at the reflection in the men's room mirror, taking stock and appraising the image that stared back at him.
The casino uniform he wore was sharp, crisp, and most importantly - simple. Dan tugged the cuffs on the white long-sleeved button-down before running his hands from breast to hip along his black and grey diamond-checked vest to smooth out any imperceptible creases. The short black apron along his waist hid the zipper of his matching slacks. Force of habit led him to checking the lip of his pants pockets, only to feel a faint crease but no discernable pockets. Save for the supervisors and pit bosses, no one on the floor wore any pockets.
Finally, Dan fixed his tie and adjusted the badge sitting square on his left breast. His name was embossed on the gaudy gold-colored tin badge in a curved script, telling the whole world that Dan had come to take their money. Below that was his Nevada Gaming Commission ID, complete with his name, registration number, and a picture of his face.
It was not the same face looking back at Dan in the mirror. The one on the badge looked young, happy, and with that charming combination of full curly brown hair and the faintest hint of a beard framing his jawline.
Under the phosphorous glow of the bathroom lights, Dan looked wreathed in shadows. Thin lines of sickly orange light cracked across his cheek, nose and forehead, casting their own glow across his features. Most striking, and horrible of all, were the dark pools of pure black that were his eyes. It was like staring down into a pit of eternal darkness; one that even with its obvious promise of doom, invited you to take the plunge and see what wonders were held in the deep.
Dan struggled to pull himself away from the darkness, from the emptiness inside of himself. Staring like he did made the hollowness feel deeper; more pronounced.
He could feel his stomach rumble from the hunger.
"Hey, someone looks excited to be here." a voice materialized from behind Dan, breaking him out of his own enrapturing spell. "First time jitters?"
Dan turned and flashed a confident smile to the speaker; another dealer whom he had not seen before. A quick glance at the man's tag skipped the awkward introductions.
"Yeah, you could say that... Charlie." Dan placed his hands on the sink and leaned back, trying his best to look casual. Look the part, be the part. "How long you been here?"
Charlie's smile widened into a toothy grin, "About five years. You ever done casino work before?"
"Me? No!" Dan scoffed and flashed his own smile to emulate Charlie's. "But I've spent enough time in them on the other side."
"Haven't we all?" Charlie laughed. It was a good, hardy laugh. The kind of laugh that came out like hot breath on a cold morning.
Dan could see it, clear as day. His nostrils flared, and he took in the sweet scent.
It was intoxicating.
When Dan smiled next, he bared his teeth. "Got any tips for a rookie?"
As Charlie opened his mouth to talk, a thin stream of gold followed his words; floating in the air between them like a ribbon in the breeze. The other dealer's words were muffled as if they were wrapped in cotton and all the world lost focus as Dan fixated on the ribbon of light. His lips tightened until they were left with a small opening, and with a strong inhale he sucked the ribbon right into his mouth. Sweet elation coursed through Dan as he took in the light, taking in more and more like it was life-giving water. As he drank deep from the well, he watched as Charlie's warm and pleasant demeanor began to diminish. His shoulders sank and face fell low, even as he kept droning on with advice that Dan never heard.
Finally, Dan's lips parted and the ribbon fell away. Charlie, who had looked so vibrant and eager before, looked pallid and exhausted.
"Hey..." Charlie wiped the sweat from his brow, "we should probably go and get clocked in. It's almost time to get on the floor."
Dan nodded, then furrowed his brow in a mockery of concern, "You feeling all right, Charlie? You look a little pale."
"Uh... uh, yeah... yeah." Charlie's words were heavy and slurred. "Don't know what came over me just now. Probably that sushi I had for lunch."
Well... or it's because you were lunch. Dan brushed the thought away and pressed his concern, "Maybe you should go on the EO list tonight."
"Ye... ya know..." Charlie reached for his head as if to balance himself. "That's probably not a bad idea. I never ask to go on there, anyway. Thanks, kid."
If Dan was capable of it, he may have felt a pang of guilt. Instead, he was riding that Joy High. "Don't mention it." he scoffed and looked at his watch. "You're right about us getting on the floor, though. It's five minutes to seven."
"Yeah... yeah..." Charlie nodded, his expression as blank as his voice, "Showtime."
Dan followed Charlie from the wash room down the long and narrow corridors to the break room, where all the other dealers were lined up in single file before a digital punch-in clock. The minute the clock read 7:00pm, one by one the dealers punched in their numbers and waited for the beep before running out onto the floor. Dan followed suit, and waited for that brief moment before the screen told him he was in and ready to work.
As Dan took his place in the crowd, a feeling of anticipation crept up from his stomach. He imagined the other dealers around him, most of them fresh faces straight out of his dealer school, were feeling much the same thing. But unlike them, what Dan felt was not nerves for remembering his hands and payouts.
It was the joy of the upcoming hunt.
When the group broke through the door that led onto the casino floor, Dan was assailed by a wall of lights and sounds. Slot machines rang, chimed and beeped their mad melodies. Buxom waitresses snaked through the cramped aisles, stopping once in a while to whisper to a patron if they wanted anything or dropping off a drink to those who ordered. Music blared over the speakers, a mix of current Top-Twenty hits and old classics.
And everywhere Dan looked was an endless throng of people. The sea of bodies stretched out for what could have well been eternity. And every drop in that ocean, someone full of hopes and dreams of scoring that one-in-a-million win that would change their life forever.
For Dan, it was a banquet.
Dan followed the other dealers into a ring of carnival tables which formed one of the casino's pits. Dan recognized most of them from a glance as Blackjack of one variation or another, along with a Three-Card and Four-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'Em, and Mississippi Stud. Anchoring the other side of the pit were a pair of parallel craps tables, which were both full to bursting with players. In fact, every table was full of players, with more waiting in the wings to snatch up a free table the minute someone ran out of chips, luck, or both.
As the group approached the podium and the presiding Pit Boss, Dan took in the sights and sounds around him. A trio of black-jacket clad floor supervisors patrolled like vultures, their gazes fixed on both dealers and players. Chips clanked as they were passed in and out of their metal racks. Bills were ruffled and dealers would shout out "CHANGE, FIVE HUNDRED!!" and wait to be approved before the slamming of plastic told Dan the money was safe and secure. Players ran chips through their fingers as they stared at their cards, deciding whether or not to take that double down they should take.
Finally, the Pit Boss pointed at Dan and, in a deep, gruff voice that felt like gravel, announced to Dan, "BJ 1."
Dan looked around the pit until he found the Blackjack table marked "1" and stepped over to the dealer. Staying on the woman's right, Dan tapped her shoulder to announce his presence. She glanced at him, looked back at the collection of tourists, brought the shoe and a card to the middle of the table and clapped to clear her hands.
"New dealer." She smiled, "Thank you all for playing!"
As Dan took up his spot, he could already hear the wranglers.
"Uh oh! They brought in the Cooler!"
"That dealer let me win every hand! Are you going to do the same!"
"Hey! You have to show us the burn card! That's the rules, you know!"
Dan's predatory smile widened as he listened to their calls. With a practiced flourish, Dan deposited the burn card into the discard pile and brought the shoe back to its original spot. Running a hand across the table, he gave each spot a pat and wished them all, "Good luck, my friends." and began dealing out the cards.
Already, it seemed like tonight would be a good night.
The casino uniform he wore was sharp, crisp, and most importantly - simple. Dan tugged the cuffs on the white long-sleeved button-down before running his hands from breast to hip along his black and grey diamond-checked vest to smooth out any imperceptible creases. The short black apron along his waist hid the zipper of his matching slacks. Force of habit led him to checking the lip of his pants pockets, only to feel a faint crease but no discernable pockets. Save for the supervisors and pit bosses, no one on the floor wore any pockets.
Finally, Dan fixed his tie and adjusted the badge sitting square on his left breast. His name was embossed on the gaudy gold-colored tin badge in a curved script, telling the whole world that Dan had come to take their money. Below that was his Nevada Gaming Commission ID, complete with his name, registration number, and a picture of his face.
It was not the same face looking back at Dan in the mirror. The one on the badge looked young, happy, and with that charming combination of full curly brown hair and the faintest hint of a beard framing his jawline.
Under the phosphorous glow of the bathroom lights, Dan looked wreathed in shadows. Thin lines of sickly orange light cracked across his cheek, nose and forehead, casting their own glow across his features. Most striking, and horrible of all, were the dark pools of pure black that were his eyes. It was like staring down into a pit of eternal darkness; one that even with its obvious promise of doom, invited you to take the plunge and see what wonders were held in the deep.
Dan struggled to pull himself away from the darkness, from the emptiness inside of himself. Staring like he did made the hollowness feel deeper; more pronounced.
He could feel his stomach rumble from the hunger.
"Hey, someone looks excited to be here." a voice materialized from behind Dan, breaking him out of his own enrapturing spell. "First time jitters?"
Dan turned and flashed a confident smile to the speaker; another dealer whom he had not seen before. A quick glance at the man's tag skipped the awkward introductions.
"Yeah, you could say that... Charlie." Dan placed his hands on the sink and leaned back, trying his best to look casual. Look the part, be the part. "How long you been here?"
Charlie's smile widened into a toothy grin, "About five years. You ever done casino work before?"
"Me? No!" Dan scoffed and flashed his own smile to emulate Charlie's. "But I've spent enough time in them on the other side."
"Haven't we all?" Charlie laughed. It was a good, hardy laugh. The kind of laugh that came out like hot breath on a cold morning.
Dan could see it, clear as day. His nostrils flared, and he took in the sweet scent.
It was intoxicating.
When Dan smiled next, he bared his teeth. "Got any tips for a rookie?"
As Charlie opened his mouth to talk, a thin stream of gold followed his words; floating in the air between them like a ribbon in the breeze. The other dealer's words were muffled as if they were wrapped in cotton and all the world lost focus as Dan fixated on the ribbon of light. His lips tightened until they were left with a small opening, and with a strong inhale he sucked the ribbon right into his mouth. Sweet elation coursed through Dan as he took in the light, taking in more and more like it was life-giving water. As he drank deep from the well, he watched as Charlie's warm and pleasant demeanor began to diminish. His shoulders sank and face fell low, even as he kept droning on with advice that Dan never heard.
Finally, Dan's lips parted and the ribbon fell away. Charlie, who had looked so vibrant and eager before, looked pallid and exhausted.
"Hey..." Charlie wiped the sweat from his brow, "we should probably go and get clocked in. It's almost time to get on the floor."
Dan nodded, then furrowed his brow in a mockery of concern, "You feeling all right, Charlie? You look a little pale."
"Uh... uh, yeah... yeah." Charlie's words were heavy and slurred. "Don't know what came over me just now. Probably that sushi I had for lunch."
Well... or it's because you were lunch. Dan brushed the thought away and pressed his concern, "Maybe you should go on the EO list tonight."
"Ye... ya know..." Charlie reached for his head as if to balance himself. "That's probably not a bad idea. I never ask to go on there, anyway. Thanks, kid."
If Dan was capable of it, he may have felt a pang of guilt. Instead, he was riding that Joy High. "Don't mention it." he scoffed and looked at his watch. "You're right about us getting on the floor, though. It's five minutes to seven."
"Yeah... yeah..." Charlie nodded, his expression as blank as his voice, "Showtime."
Dan followed Charlie from the wash room down the long and narrow corridors to the break room, where all the other dealers were lined up in single file before a digital punch-in clock. The minute the clock read 7:00pm, one by one the dealers punched in their numbers and waited for the beep before running out onto the floor. Dan followed suit, and waited for that brief moment before the screen told him he was in and ready to work.
As Dan took his place in the crowd, a feeling of anticipation crept up from his stomach. He imagined the other dealers around him, most of them fresh faces straight out of his dealer school, were feeling much the same thing. But unlike them, what Dan felt was not nerves for remembering his hands and payouts.
It was the joy of the upcoming hunt.
When the group broke through the door that led onto the casino floor, Dan was assailed by a wall of lights and sounds. Slot machines rang, chimed and beeped their mad melodies. Buxom waitresses snaked through the cramped aisles, stopping once in a while to whisper to a patron if they wanted anything or dropping off a drink to those who ordered. Music blared over the speakers, a mix of current Top-Twenty hits and old classics.
And everywhere Dan looked was an endless throng of people. The sea of bodies stretched out for what could have well been eternity. And every drop in that ocean, someone full of hopes and dreams of scoring that one-in-a-million win that would change their life forever.
For Dan, it was a banquet.
Dan followed the other dealers into a ring of carnival tables which formed one of the casino's pits. Dan recognized most of them from a glance as Blackjack of one variation or another, along with a Three-Card and Four-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'Em, and Mississippi Stud. Anchoring the other side of the pit were a pair of parallel craps tables, which were both full to bursting with players. In fact, every table was full of players, with more waiting in the wings to snatch up a free table the minute someone ran out of chips, luck, or both.
As the group approached the podium and the presiding Pit Boss, Dan took in the sights and sounds around him. A trio of black-jacket clad floor supervisors patrolled like vultures, their gazes fixed on both dealers and players. Chips clanked as they were passed in and out of their metal racks. Bills were ruffled and dealers would shout out "CHANGE, FIVE HUNDRED!!" and wait to be approved before the slamming of plastic told Dan the money was safe and secure. Players ran chips through their fingers as they stared at their cards, deciding whether or not to take that double down they should take.
Finally, the Pit Boss pointed at Dan and, in a deep, gruff voice that felt like gravel, announced to Dan, "BJ 1."
Dan looked around the pit until he found the Blackjack table marked "1" and stepped over to the dealer. Staying on the woman's right, Dan tapped her shoulder to announce his presence. She glanced at him, looked back at the collection of tourists, brought the shoe and a card to the middle of the table and clapped to clear her hands.
"New dealer." She smiled, "Thank you all for playing!"
As Dan took up his spot, he could already hear the wranglers.
"Uh oh! They brought in the Cooler!"
"That dealer let me win every hand! Are you going to do the same!"
"Hey! You have to show us the burn card! That's the rules, you know!"
Dan's predatory smile widened as he listened to their calls. With a practiced flourish, Dan deposited the burn card into the discard pile and brought the shoe back to its original spot. Running a hand across the table, he gave each spot a pat and wished them all, "Good luck, my friends." and began dealing out the cards.
Already, it seemed like tonight would be a good night.