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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cachaemic June 5 2009, 07:40:52 UTC
[The longer he stands there, the more time he has to think up reasons why he shouldn't be there. He should leave now, but he can't seem to make himself. Maybe he won't have to. He's been fixating on one of the more intimidating looking guards when he hears Nagi approaching.]

Nagi-san! [Quickly lowering his voice.] ...N-no, not really.

[Before he can ask if they should turn back, Nagi smiles and he eases slightly. And he does look a lot different in a suit; it's probably been a long time since he's had one. It's something Nagi deserves to enjoy. Yeah, and if they're careful, maybe they won't even run into anyone.

That's probably too much to hope for, but it helps him to move. He's slow to go inside, still watching the same guard; but instead of stopping them, the door is opened when he gets close. Ganta nods his thanks and turns back to make sure Nagi is close by.

It's more crowded than he thought it was. Even if Eko or the others are here looking for him, they might not ever run into them. Which also means it'll be harder for them to see who is there. He ought to tell Nagi about Eko, but something keeps him from mentioning it. It all seems a little ridiculous to say it out loud.]

This place looks a lot bigger on the inside.

[Ganta hovers near the front, not sure where to go. He gets an intense feeling that this isn't for him and tries to swallow it down.]

Should we just wait here?

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cicumae June 5 2009, 14:26:09 UTC
[ the guards seem to pay the two of them little to no attention, and the same goes for the casino's other patrons -- other than a few curious glances towards ganta, probably due to his age, they go largely ignored. well, at least they aren't drawing any bad attention.

what gets to nagi the most, though, is the wall of noise that hits him as they enter the premise. he's never really been to a casino before -- and though he'd been to a pachinko parlor with his wife back in tokyo on whim, this really wasn't something he was used to. the lights, the sounds, the smoke in the air -- he can tell it will probably all accumulate to a considerable headache later on.

but for now, he should probably enjoy the place as best as he can. when ganta looks to him, he laughs awkwardly. ]

Ah -- wait? Were you planning on meeting someone here?

[ nagi had been assuming not, but it's always a possibility, on second though. looking back to the casino floor, he notes the different areas -- the slot machines stacked in one area, poker and blackjack tables across from there, the bar in the distance. none of it really seems like a place for a minor to be -- to be honest, he feels fairly out of place, too.

he does note a more quiet area near the back though, with what looks like a less rowdy drinks bar. ]

I'm not sure if you'd be allowed to gamble, seeing your age -- but perhaps you could watch? We should probably move away from the entrance though, before we start blocking the way.

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cachaemic June 5 2009, 18:13:50 UTC
[He bites his lip and shakes his head.]

--No. I hope not.

[But he's having a hard time being heard over the crowd. It is probably better they move to somewhere further away. He doesn't want to be near the gambling or do anything that draws attention. Ganta can't imagine what would happen if they see him. Would they alert security? Did they have some kind of prison hidden somewhere that they would get thrown into?

It's stupid of him to think he's there to save anyone when he can't stop thinking about himself. They can't walk very quickly in the crowd and Ganta finds himself drifting behind Nagi, like he's using him as a shield. When he realizes he's doing it, he balls his fists and stops halfway into the building.]

I'm sorry. There's something I didn't tell you. Well, a few things...

[And maybe outside would have been a better place to tell him about the Red Man and Eko and everything else he's been hiding from lately. Stupid.]

I didn't really want to come here.

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cicumae June 5 2009, 18:36:42 UTC
[ since it seems like ganta doesn't have anything in particular in mind, nagi's been slowly leading the way towards the quiet-looking bar where they could possibly get a good view of the slot machines and craps table, if ganta wants to watch the games -- and he hasn't been bothered at all by the fact that ganta is trailing behind (probably just watching the surroundings?). except, when ganta stops, nagi notices and turns halfway around, looking slightly confused. ]

-- Igarashi-kun?

[ ganta goes on, and nagi strains to hear the words over the chatter of the crowd. though he can't make out everything, between what he can hear and ganta's expression, he can tell that something isn't quite right.

mostly abandoning the false pretense at enjoying the place, he gives a small nod, then gestures for ganta to follow. leads the way to a little circle of plush chairs and a coffee table near a wall -- it's empty, at least for the moment, and there's some room to breathe. here, away from the crowd, nagi ducks down a little bit so he's closer to ganta's eye-level, his expression more concerned than anything else, his voice soft. ]

-- is there something that I should know about?

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cachaemic June 5 2009, 22:13:30 UTC
[Ganta can't see very far into the crowd, so he's grateful for Nagi leading the way. When they find somewhere to sit he feels a little less claustrophobic, even if the chairs seem too big for him. But it's not just that; the entire casino has a way of making him feel small and lost.

He has a hard time looking back at Nagi, like he's expecting to get yelled at for making a mistake, even though he knows he wouldn't. It isn't like he didn't try to handle it himself. That doesn't mean he shouldn't have told Nagi all of this sooner. He trusted him to.]

It's a long story.

[He watches the ground and thinks of how to explain. When he does, he speaks quietly, worried that someone might hear.]

I met this... vampire. He kept talking to me like he wanted to help me. And then-- [there's a sharp pain in his chest and he grabs at his shirt before he goes on] --that person from DW came back. I wanted to find him before he did anything. I guess they must have fought. But... when I was going to go after him, the vampire stopped me. He told me to come here instead. He promised that he wouldn't kill anyone else if I did.

[It sounds worse when he says it out loud and he looks up apologetically.]

But I haven't heard from him since then.

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cicumae June 5 2009, 23:29:04 UTC
[ even away from the majority of the crowd, it still takes a little effort to catch ganta's words. eyes narrowed in thought, nagi listens intently to what ganta's saying. ]

... I see.

[ it is a rather complicated, matter, isn't it? on the one hand, there's the man from DW. unfortunately, nagi hasn't had any first-hand experience, but from what he'd heard through the network, ganta's fears seemed more than justified. and then something about a vampire. it doesn't sound too implausible, given the population of the city that nagi had seen -- and if that's the case, then the fact that ganta had even agreed to show up is commendable.

letting out a low breath, nagi rubs at the back of his neck, thinking. unfortunately, there aren't any obvious solutions to the situation, and he mulls over his thoughts for a moment before speaking slowly, his voice low and level ]

I -- must apologize, first. I wasn't aware that such a thing was happening, I'm sorry that I could not be of any help. [ a deep nod, before he straightens up, still looking thoughtful ] If he only told you to be present at the casino, then you've already fulfilled your part. I would assume that the vampire would keep his end of the deal if he bothered to make such a promise in the first place -- not to mention, he would be stopped very quickly if he attempted anything rash. You would be surprised at how powerful some of the people here are.

[ giving a small sigh, he gives ganta a wry smile, trying to be reassuring ]

For now, the best thing to do would be to wait, wouldn't it? As complicated as the situation seems, sometimes there isn't much else to do than wait to see what happens, then make the next decision.

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cachaemic June 6 2009, 04:19:42 UTC
[Ganta swallows a lump in his throat and nods again.]

Yeah, you're right.

[There's really nothing more he can do right now. Other than running around hoping to be at the right place at the right time... Warning everyone would cause a panic, or draw attention to the wrong people, or they just wouldn't believe him. But telling Nagi everything, or almost everything, makes him feel a bit lighter and he manages a small smile back at him.

It could just be that he's been thinking about it too much. Ganta can't stop something that hasn't happened yet. So he takes a deep breath and holds his head up. The crowd is still closing around them and he doesn't really want to join it again. They could leave, but if Eko is looking for him...]

...I don't know how long we have to stay here.

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cicumae June 6 2009, 22:12:59 UTC
[ it's a relief to see that ganta looks even just a little less panicked, and nagi gives a questioning glance ]

Do you want to leave as soon as possible?

[ looking back to the general casino floor, he thinks for a moment. from where they are at the moment, nagi can see most of the crowd -- and though it takes a little effort, he can make out most faces (not that he recognizes many) after a few moments. which should mean that the opposite is also probably true, if anyone is looking for ganta. rubbing at his cheek, he minces his words for a moment before speaking ]

I can't say for sure, but it may be a good idea to linger for at least some time before leaving. If the vampire wants to make sure that you are present here, then it may take a bit of time before he catches sight of you.

[ a little pause, before he manages a weak smile ] And you may as well try and enjoy yourself since you've made the effort of coming here? With so many people present, I'm sure we'd hear the moment that anything alarming happened.

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NIGHT IV | Entrance - OPEN cachaemic June 7 2009, 00:35:30 UTC
[Ganta doesn't respond to his first question. After everything he's dealt with the past week, the answer is pretty obvious. This isn't a place for him. It's too crowded and too loud. All he wants to do right now is hide where nobody can find him. Even if everything was different, he probably would never have wanted to come to a casino. But Nagi's right, they can't risk it.

He still doesn't know why Eko asked him to come here to start with. If he's really trying to help him, Ganta can't figure out why. Maybe he just wants to fight the Red Man and keep him out of it. There are people like that.]

I don't-- [He bites his lip; he shouldn't be so selfish after dragging Nagi out here.] I mean, if you wanted to, I'll go along with you.

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