Disclaimer: I don't own Victorious or any of it's characters. Schneider's Bakery does, along with Nickelodeon. I do think I improve on the originals, however.

:}

"Mom, it's okay now." I tried to explain to her about my current living situation. I'd moved to Vegas, to find work, because even a mediocre comedian could find work here. I wound up working strip clubs, up until Rex left me, claiming I was too lame even for the strippers to date. Only, that's where I met Randy, and that's how I wound up here. "I'm just, I don't know how to explain…"

Randy was a down on his luck gambler who would come by the club whenever he won, to spend his money on the girls. I remember befriending him, mostly because he told me I was funny. Just not, you know, up on stage. He felt I was way more funny when I was being natural. People freeze up on stage. Natural is wonderful, but if you don't have material, then you're lost, and I know better than to be an insult comedian in a strip club.

So, every so often, I help the poor guy out, up until he comes out to me, lets me know he only hits the strip club because he was trying to make himself straight. Only, that doesn't work like that either. I talked to him, help him through this rough time, and watch him slowly stop trying to act like the tough, no nonsense guy his dad wanted him to be. He didn't have to be a risk taker, losing his cash regularly before slinking back home to earn more. I even helped him get up the courage to ask some guy out, and no, it wasn't me. We never had that kind of relationship.

"Cat's fine. She's enjoying the fresh start this offers her." My mom, no idea how hard it can be in the real world. Never imagined I'd keep at it, even when I went from strip club comedian, fired because I just wasn't that funny, to magicians assistant, because I at least understand how the tricks work. In just three years I'd gone from hopeful comedian to out of work comedian to magicians assistant, and I kept that job more because I could work with the tricks, but didn't have to make them work, than because any real skill I had with magic. In fact, my acting skills were what made me a semi success in this field. Even Randy thought so.

So, Cat… Yea, that's a different part of the story. Ran into her just after I'd transitioned to being a magicians assistant, AFTER Rex had himself mailed back to Los Angeles. She was singing with this group, and doing okay, but not getting any breaks. Worse, she was failing, because too many of the promoters expected her to be friendly, which is pervert for sleep with them. No, Cat wasn't that naive. So, we run into each other, both barely hanging on, and decided to do the one thing that made no sense, get married. Hay, what else could we do? Sharing expenses helps both of us.

"Mom, that's a normal gesture around here. Cat didn't man anything by it." Fun fact, when you're a dealer, you develop an odd habit, always flashing your hands to the cameras watching every table, every inch of the casino. Cat got a job as a dealer just after we got married, and so, even now, she will flash her hands upwards to prove she's not holding anything after picking up anything, even for a moment. Even at the grocery store. Mom just doesn't understand.

Anyways, what does that have to do with my man Randy? Easy. Turns out he's a far better gambler then he thought, and once he stopped taking unnecessary risks, was able to gable where research could help. Like fantasy football, and the stock market. Randy had that magical mix of luck, insight, and just enough inside information to make the right bets, or buy the right stocks, but not enough to break any laws. Next thing I know, he's a high roller, gambling bigger, but keeping his bets just low enough that he's not risking that much. But now that he's getting everything comped, he's thinking that maybe, just maybe, we could talk about how I'd make my life better.

One wild, lucky night, and as his good luck charm, I get to watch him win millions of dollars. Felt better than I had in ages, because now I was someones good luck charm. And Randy, he wants to share the wealth. He just understands, the way he does it will determine so many factors, like how much I pay the IRS, and what kind of job I'd be able to get while he heads back to his old life to build up for the next time he visits Vegas, which is far more regular then it used to be. So he bought a condo, In a casino, and hired us to be the caretakers. Like he needed caretakers, since all he does to maintain it is pay a maintenance fee and gets the regular cleaning and stuff that the hotel offers it's guests. Our job is more to be there in case something breaks and to make sure no one breaks in, past the casino's top notch security. So of course, we live here, in what was once a penthouse style room, and have this wonderful view of the city. Simply because, like George Clooney, he felt he should share his success.

I mean, sure, technically, we do work for him, living in his penthouse, using it's amenities, but what were really doing is, when he has the chance to come by and enjoy himself, we're there to act as his Casino hosts. We talk to the various casino's, get him whatever, buy him tickets in advance for the shows and events he wants to see, and in general are there to take care of his various needs.

And what he needs is friends by his side to enjoy his success. So yea, technically we failed. I failed as a comedian, Cat didn't quite fail as a singer, just in the screwed up world she had to compete in until she can land a gig that lets her perform without anyone expecting her to more. I even failed to keep Rex around, though I have let him know I have this place now, if he wanted to come back. However, we managed to finally fail upwards, in a big way.

"Look, mom, we can have you and dad come visit. Just, we have to time it, cause we only have the one bedroom, plus the shared space. The other room, that's for our boss. But I so want you to see what I do for a living now… That is, until I make it as a comedian, cause Randy wants me to. I just, I have to figure out how to be natural while on stage. Not as easy as you'd think…"

Oh yea, still working as a magicians assistant. I just take whole weeks off when Randy comes to town. Says a lot about how good I am that I keep that job…

:}

Hope you enjoyed this one. I like it, and it wasn't easy to write…

Review.