As soon as he entered the casino, he was assailed by bright colours and flashing lights, with loud music that hushed all other noise. It smelled like fried food, fizzy soda, and fermented wine. Everything here was big: big buildings, big money, and big machines.
Raymond saw a waiter walking around carrying a tray of drinks and ducked out of the way. You could walk in and take a martini in a plastic cup. It was possible for anyone to do.
People walked by. There were well-dressed people, but also people in hoodies and sweatpants. A woman was saying to her boyfriend, "Come on, you've already won enough. Let's leave before you lose everything again."
He gritted his teeth. I hope he does, he thought, once again aware of the chasm that existed between himself and other people.
By then, the night had worn on. Raymond found himself buzzed, pissed, and staring blankly at a slot machine trying to figure out how to work it.
He really didn't know how to play. It wasn't something he'd had the chance to do, and it wasn't like he had the money to mess around, either. You had to line up the symbols, but some were better than others, right?
Like all sevens. That was supposed to be good, for some reason.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
The voice came from above. When Raymond turned his head, there Vincent was. Red-eyed, pale-faced, and holding an unfinished drink in his hand.
"I didn't know you gambled," Vincent said.
Raymond had the good sense to lie. "Sometimes."
"Yeah, right. How much have you put in?"
Vincent glanced over at the machine. It wasn't even activated.
He sat down next to Raymond and put a coin into the machine, which dinged and whirred, then began blaring a chipper tune. "Heard you've been putting up a good fight these days."
"Why don't you come see me?"
"I'm busy." Vincent shot Raymond a sidelong glance. "Happy to see you grow into yourself. You look better this way."
He slammed the buttons on the machine. The reel spun. No matches.
Vincent pushed another coin into the machine, then took out a stack of bills. Raymond watched with fascination as it disappeared too.
The second time, a poor match.
"Shit, this isn't..."
Raymond said, "Can I try?"
Vincent didn't respond.
Silently, Raymond put his own coin in the slots and hit the button. The machine spat out a line of cherries.
Vincent shot him a dirty look and ran a hand through his hair. It was beginning to look disheveled. Then he stood up.
"You know what, Raymond? Get up and play poker with me."