Just as the last dregs of his cocktail were sliding down his throat, Barnaby felt a tug at his elbow. A child appeared - well, a teenager at least, but still a person much younger than he expected to see in a casino run by a literal crime syndicate. His first thought is of Eris Halla and, sighing, Barnaby shrugged off his initial surprise.

ROCKET likes to start 'em young, after all.

He took the offered note, silent and unenthusiastic. The paper detailed their first mark of the night: an EEVEE-themed slot machine near the back of the parlor. It was a house favorite, so no surprise there.

Rising, Barnaby straitened his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair, mentally preparing for the night ahead. Then, like the flip of a switch, a radiant smile brightened his face.

Time to get to work.

Barnaby casually strode toward their targeted machine, scanning to see if a patron was seated there. Luckily enough, a middle-aged man was poised in front of the screen, rainbow-colored lights dancing across his glasses. He was transfixed, eager - or perhaps desperate? - for the slot's winnings.

An easy mark. Barnaby approached, radiating confidence and sincerity.

"Excuse me, sir!" He began, affably slapping the top of the machine to get the man's - and Asher's - attention. "I need a little help, if you don't mind?"

The man's gaze shifted toward Barnaby, confused but not hostile. He nodded quietly, his attention momentarily occupied away from the screen.

Asher Baran
mission: RIGGED GACHA ROLLS

☉

"Would you happen to know where the nearest bathroom is?" Barnaby asked, an embarrassed look on his face. To add to the display, he even gingerly rubbed the back of his head and bowed a little.

The patron, rather than being upset by the interruption, was kind enough to point him in the right direction. Barnaby mouthed a quiet 'thank you' before moving on.

Hopefully the kid heard all that, and was now tunneling his way closer toward the restroom and the machines nearby that spot. How would Asher know which sucker Barnaby had chosen? Well, he figured there was some way to see outside the recesses of the metal network below the floor.

Within a free minutes another mark had been found and, much as before, Barnaby approached them with a smile. "Excuse me..."

Asher Baran
mission: RIGGED GACHA ROLLS

☉

The woman behind the machine was much less affable than their last target. She barely looked Barnaby's way when he asked for her attention, and even still her expression was cold and reproachful.

"What?" She replied bluntly. "I'm busy."

Ah. This situation would definitely be more difficult.

"My apologies, it's just..." He leaned a little closer to her, his voice hushed. "I'm pretty sure I saw a man watching you earlier... it made me a little concerned so I thought I'd let you know."

That got her attention, if only for a brief moment. She turned toward Barnaby with a scowl on her face. "A man? What, are you talking about yourself? Get lost."

Asher Baran
mission: RIGGED GACHA ROLLS

☉

Barnaby did indeed get lost without much further prompting from the woman. It didn't pay to draw attention to himself, so better to cut and run before she started screaming.

After a moment or two he felt a presence by his side. Looking down, there was the kid again, sporting a fiery gleam in his young eyes. Barnaby listened to his explanation and simply shook his head, smiling.

"Yeah, let's have Security handle it. Definitely not our job to worry about a few hundred dollars being nicked." His tone was calm and almost lazy.

"C'mon, let's keep going. There are plenty more marks left in the casino."

Asher Baran
mission: RIGGED GACHA ROLLS

☉