Three young and men walked down one of the dark streets. They were catching up on the days events and having a good laugh. The three of them had finished there shifts and were now free to wander the city. Antonio was still dressed in his plain white work shirt and formal black trousers. His brown hair though was no longer neat and now had a scruffy air to it. His two friends were dressed in similar fashions. Gilbert had white hair and sharp red eyes. His shirt was a smart black colour as he complained a white shirt made him look sickly pale though more importantly to him, not as attractive. Francis walked in a pale blue shirt between the other two. His long blond hair resting on his shoulder's, he was happy letting it down as he had to have it tied up for his work.
"So what have you guys been up to?" Antonio asked his two friends.
"Nothing much." Francis said with a slight french accent. "Waiting tables as usual."
"Yeah, I've been staring at some computer screens in security. Nothing much happened today. So the same old same old." Gilbert sighed stretching up. Gilbert had a slight german accent while Antonio had a spanish one. "I would of thought a job in security would be more fun than this." There was a murmurer of agreement from the other too.
"Yeah, we all got through university." Antonio said. "Look at us now, Francis waits tables, you watch screens all day and I carry suitcases up and down stairs and change beds."
"Our lives suck." Gilbert groaned.
"At least we are kinda in the right fields." Francis said. "I'm in catering, your in security and... Antonio what are you trying to do with your life?" Francis asked turning to his friend and looking at him curiously.
"Well I studied dance and the arts at uni. I would like to get into performance at the hotel. They are always looking for performers or I could teach lessons." Antonio said optimistically. Francis took a moment and nodded at the idea.
"It's a start." He said. The group continued to walk down the street. They had so many hopes and dreams about life. After they graduated it looked like the world was their oyster. It didn't take very long for reality to hit them. With prices going up on everything and less and less jobs being around, life was hard for the graduates. They all worked luckily and their income kept them in a small rented house that was just right for three guys to live in. It also meant that they were really close friends and all enjoyed each other's company. Then again, some nights they would spend their time shut away in their own rooms. But on most nights like tonight, the trio would be out together having a good time, especially after payday.
"You know what's really annoying?" Gilbert said. "That story about the guys that opened that new casino in town." He said with a hint of resentment. "They just got lucky and made a fortune."
"Yeah, I remember hearing about that." Antonio said. "They won big at some other casino's and got enough money together to open their own."
"Yeah and they made even more money and I bet they didn't go to university and end up with a massive student debt." Gilbert grumbled.
"I do believe one of them did." Francis chipped in. "If I remember what I read in the paper, there are 3 people at the top. One guy who's single and the other two are brother and sister. From what I heard about them before they got rich, the single guy had the crazy idea and the brother was a graduate with business and mathematics. It's a touching story about the siblings. Though it does look like he sold his soul to look after his sister."
"So one guys doing it for wealth, the other to protect his family?" Antonio queried.
"Those guys still make more money a week than we do in a year." Gilbert grumbled as they walked down the street. The trio soon came up to the flashing lights that was the Edelweiss Casino. Gilbert tried to walk right by it, not wanting to fill their pockets more with his hard earned cash. Antonio had paused outside the door, looking up at the building. He knew gambling was a serious thing, it could get you into a lot of debt. Francis stopped as he noticed Antonio pause, Gilbert soon stopped to, groaning he turned back. Antonio looked to his friends.
"How about for tonight, we don't go to the pub?" He asked.
"No!" Gilbert looked outraged at the idea. "I'm going to spend my money on beer, that is what this is labeled for. It's drinking money!"
"Most casino's have bars in them." Francis said softly studying the build. He too was interested in the contents of the building, even just a look round would be nice.
"Come on Gil. Just for tonight." Antonio pleaded. Gilbert sighed and gave in to the other two.
"As long as I can find the bar and drink, I'll be happy." He said, but you two better come for a drink too!"
"We will." Francis smiled to him. "It's just to see what's inside." He looked to Antonio. "I want us all to decide now that we will only spend our own free money. So that is only the cash in your wallet. No more. Agreed?" Francis wanted to make sure they would be able to pay for their rent this month.
"Agreed." Gilbert nodded.
"Agreed." Antonio nodded too. That all settled the three of they walked into the building.
The building on the inside looked amazing to them, rows and rows of machines and lights of every colour flashed in the room. It also had that posh air and the feeling that anything could happen. The three of them were filled with a childish need to run around and try everything. Though learning what they had they all restrained themselves from acting foolishly. Gilbert was the first to snap out of the stupor the atmosphere had put them in.
"So... where's the bar?" He asked in a calm tone. The others quickly returned to reality as they looked around.
"I have not clue." Francis said as he tried to find anything similar to a bar in sight. Looking through all the slot machines and roulette tables, he couldn't see anything. Antonio looked around too but to no avail. The three of them must of looked lost because it didn't take long for Vash to notice them. He smiled and walked over to the trio.
"Good evening sirs." He smiled, the sudden speech causing them to jump. "This must be your first time here."
"Yes." Francis took the lead. "Could you possible guide us around this amazing establishment?"
"Certainly sir." Vash nodded smiled and gesturing him to follow them. Antonio and Gilbert had breath a sigh of relief that Francis had too the lead, then again he was the one most used to talking to strangers. They followed Vash around the giant building. He pointed out all the different areas. He explained how chips worked and how to transfer them into money and vice-verser. He also when asked explained about how the casino had come to be and how it got it's name.
"So how did you settle on the Edelweiss Casino as a name?" Francis asked.
"Well, I am one of the owners and I moved over here with my sister to try and find some work. I am originally from Switzerland, our national flower is the edelweiss flower and my partner is austrian. The same flower so we kept it nice and simple."
"When I hear the word edelweiss, I always think of that Sound of Music song." Francis chuckled. Vash chuckled too.
"It is a personal favourite of mine. I do like what it stands for." They reached the end of the little tour. "Now if you look over in that direction." Vash gestured to a sight that pleased Gilbert. "You will see our bar. The drinks are slightly cheeper than your local pub, and I hope too see you return another night." He smiled and turned to walk away. Unseen by the group Vash dropped the smile he had been holding for the last ten minuets. He sighed and walked off, his part of the job was done. Gilbert was quick to the bar and looked in amazement at all the bottles behind it.
"Okay, I agree on coming her for a drink!" Gilbert said as he scanned the prices. Antonio and Francis chuckled at his change of attitude. Just before Gilbert could order anything a loud voice cut through the air.
"Where the hell were you!" A man shouted as he roughly grabbed a young lady in a green dress. Forcefully pulling her towards him. "You know I need you with me when I play!"
"I'm sorry." The lady stuttered as he bore down on her. The guy had a long green trench coat and a red fez. The poor lady looked terrified of his actions. Francis, Antonio and Gilbert were quick to their feet heading over to him.
"You little bitch!" He shouted. "Flirting with someone else weren't you! You slut!" A loud smack seemed to echo the room. The lady fell to the floor in a heap. Antonio was quickly by her side.
"Are you okay?" He whispered softly to her. She just nodded holding her cheek.
"Those who accuse of cheating are normally doing it themselves." Francis challenged the man, stepping in front of him. Gilbert stood at the ready to fight the guy off. The man glared at the scene, he knew he had no argument against these strangers. He stepped back adjusted his coat and his fez.
"If you guys knew what was good for you." He growled. "You will leave her on the floor and never talk to her again." With that final comment he turned round and left. No apology or anything else, just a really creepy warning. The group looked round to the girl. Antonio was slowly and gently helping her up. She had long brown hair that was now in a bit of a mess. The only thing holding it together was a green head band. Her long dress was surprisingly still in one piece, though she quickly adjusted the neckline.
"Are you alright?" Antonio asked concerned.
"Yeah... I'm fine. But..." She sighed. "... take that bastards advice. I'm nothing but trouble." Lovina said sadly, trying to pull away from Antonio, but as she lifted her head, she caught the eye of Roderich. Turning her back on him she put on a fake smile. "What am I saying?" She smiled. "Thanks for coming to help me. Not many people would." The second sentence more of a grumble than anything else.
"Can we buy you a drink?" Antonio offered taking the Lovina's arm. "I'm Antonio. And this is Francis and Gilbert."
"I'm Lovina, and don't worry about drinks. I work here so I'll use my employee discount." She said as they walked over to the bar.
"No, that's okay." Antonio tried to reason. "You don't need to spend any money on us."
"No, let me get drinks. My employee discount makes them free." She smiled a true smile. Gilbert fist pumped as he was getting free drinks. Lovino chuckled as she took her seat next to Antonio. She felt a little different this time. He had something about him, some sort of innocence she hadn't seen in a long time. The three of them seemed really nice people and she could tell by their body language they were honest. As she ordered drinks her eyes were lost in Antonio's. She pulled herself away, she knew what her job was. She knew what she was, she didn't want to ruin anymore lives. Especially nice guys lives. She didn't deserve to be that lucky.