00 - Double Zero (2088 hits)
Category: GeneralLabels: The_Gambler
Rating: 1.94 on 45 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Spam (View user info) at 2005-11-21 09:23:42 EST
"We should go out for a drink sometime before you leave Sam - you know we're just gonna lose touch afterwards and that'd be a shame."
I'm not entirely sure but there seems to be a hint of a catch in her voice, like she really would regret it if we drifted away from one another. Whatever, she and I get on well enough, I guess a friendly drink wouldn't be too crucifying.
"Why not?"
---
"Good evening Sir, not seen you here in a while." It's a pleasant greeting but somehow the doorman has managed to splice an air of smugness into his monotone.
"I'm not here to play, my friend, I quit all that."
"Sure, sure."
I don't hear the condescension because my attention is already locked onto the entertainment, on the roulette wheel, on My Game.
Who the fuck am I trying to kid?
---
And so she shimmers through the door towards me, or floats, maybe she glides. Whatever she's doing, I'd be a fool to describe it as something so mundane as mere 'walking'. We share a quick embrace and I go for a chaste kiss on her cheek as I murmur some inane greeting in her ear, she holds me tightly though and there's something about her body language that somebody less informed might read as more than plutonic.
But we're drinking as friends tonight and that's how I'm playing it. fucked if I'm gonna trust my instincts some more and get burnt again.
---
But of course, a guy like me can't steer clear from the tables, even if it's just to watch, so I stroll over, affecting an air of nonchalance that I don't feel.
"Place your bets" says my friend the croupier.
I haven't bought any chips but still, I can't help playing the game in my head. The clientele around me are all throwing money onto the table like confetti but something speaks out inside me and I know they've all lost, I know its gonna be lucky 7 and these fuckers have avoided it like the plague.
---
The meal goes well, conversation flowing as freely as the over-priced wine she enjoys so much. Seems strange to me, that you could sit next to somebody day in day out for two years and not realise that actually, they're pretty perfect for you.
She sees it too and the whole dynamic of the evening seems to change with this joint self-realisation, morphing from a plutonic last gasp goodbye between two close friends into something entirely different, entirely unknown.
We leave and her arm snakes through mine as she leans into me to protect her from the chill November air. There's a barely audible sigh of contentment from her and all doubt of her intentions are removed, I'm certain of it, more certain than I've ever been of anything before.
I must have said that before though.
---
"Red 7. House pays out to lucky 7"
I knew it. But that's my problem, I ALWAYS know it and I always fucking lose.
Croupier lines up for the next spin and out of nowhere that godforsaken number scorches it's way through my synapses.
"Red 23," I murmur under my breath.
But I'm not betting, I can't afford another losing streak on this game.
And certainly not on That number.
---
"So what now?" she asks.
But that's not what she's asking, at all and we both know it. At least I think we do. My instincts are all fucked up though, so I ignore the apparent undertone.
"Dunno. It's only 11, we could find a late-license bar I guess?"
She's happy because the night is to continue but I can tell it's not the answer she wanted.
---
"Red 23."
He looks right at me when he says it. Like he knew all along what was going through my head.
Fuck you man, I aint falling for that one again.
But all of a sudden I've got a wad of chips in my pocket just in case I get that feeling again. I'm not going to bet though. Not unless I'm completely sure. I've only got those chips just in case.
Just in case.
---
And so we continue.
There's a recessed sofa in the bar that affords an air of intimacy you wouldn't normally find in such an establishment. The talk continues as we sit side by side and somehow my arm has worked it's way around her waist, we're both quite drunk now and I can't recall if this is my doing or hers. She doesn't seem to mind though and I can't deny that the situation is rather pleasant.
The voice in my head is at it again, 'this isn't a 'friend' thing and you fucking know it man' it says. 'For Christ's sake look into her eyes.'
So I do.
---
"Black 11" another involuntary guess.
The croupier definitely hears me this time and looks up with several questions in his eyes.
"Care to play this spin sir?" Is the one he finally goes with.
---
Fucking hell she's beautiful.
And the voice is right - her eyes are full of an almost liquid adoration as I stare into them and, for a split second during our silent exchange, I imagine mine are as well.
---
"Why not - Just a small bet" I reply.
---
"It's getting late, do you wanna come back to mine for a night cap?"
"Sure." She says.
---
"Black 11" says the Croupier. "Well done sir"
---
Another Sofa but this one's mine. The intimacy is real this time around and neither of us has spoken for at least five minutes. She took one my hands in hers a while back and has been idly tracing patterns on the back of it with her finger since. It's so fucking obvious what should happen now. I turn to her and she smiles a brief smile that dissolves away almost before it is formed fully, replaced with a look of utter vulnerability as I hold her gaze.
I know what's she waiting for, there's no way I'm wrong, no way at all.
---
"Last spin of the evening ladies and gentlemen, please place your bets for the last spin of the wheel"
I already know what the number is, I've known on every spin all night. Now it's time for the big bet on the once in a lifetime sure thing, the all-in gamble on the royal flush. When the odds of success is so high, so too must be the stakes, so I reach down into my pockets and move to put everything I own on this fucker.
---
Our heads are almost touching now and we've still got eye contact.
"You know, it's getting late," she whispers, "maybe I should think about getting home." Her voice is thick and the way she says the 'maybe' leaves more than enough room for me to invite her to stay.
---
I move my hand towards the table and the bottom of my entire chip-stack hovers slightly over the number that just has to come up. It's just about to touch the inviting green felt when hear my own words echoing around my head 'I'll never play that game again'
---
Flashback. 'We're drinking as friends tonight and that's how I'm playing it. fucked if I'm gonna trust my instincts some more and get burnt again'.
---
I jerk my hand back almost involuntarily and feel a mixture of shame and regret wash over me as I realise how close I came to the big gamble I promised I'd never make again.
---
"I'll call you a cab"
And it kills everything.
---
I leave the table before the ball stops rolling, I don't wanna know what would've happened
---
"Nah, it's okay, I'll walk."
She sounds cut up, I guess she wants to leave as soon as possible.
---
"Do you think you would've won?" Asks the doorman as I leave, perceiving my thoughts immediately.
"I'm sure of it." I say with meaning.
He stops and thinks for a second before answering similarly seriously.
"Me too"
But I make no move to stop her as she leaves.
Other Tales:-
23 Red: - http://www.ubersite.com/m/67860
23 Red(reprise): - http://www.ubersite.com/m/74687
User Reviews
Submitted by Linus (user info) at 2008-08-17 13:50:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 Spam. I hope this works--goddamn thing took me an hour to write.
Submitted by Bundaberg (user info) at 2006-05-28 09:25:57 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
This is a streak that should end.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-03-20 23:21:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by munkeypants (user info) at 2006-01-24 18:34:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2005-12-22 19:21:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow.
Submitted by Ballare (user info) at 2005-12-05 09:18:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 live!
Submitted by HighVoltage900 (user info) at 2005-12-05 08:39:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Very good. Interesting. Well meshed together.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-12-05 08:01:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You got lucky.
Submitted by Method (user info) at 2005-12-03 15:32:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I fuckin love your stuff
Submitted by bush_for_god (user info) at 2005-12-03 15:09:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
One of my favorite posts of all time.
Submitted by katianakate (user info) at 2005-11-30 09:27:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I usually drift off from reading uber fiction/stories at work, as my attention span is akin to a small insect, but I read this all the way through. Well crafted, the two threads were interwoven nicely.
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2005-11-30 09:04:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-27 20:18:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-11-23 06:59:22 (#)
Ranking: 2
Best thing I've read since Les Pretend joined the Beano. """
remember when Dervel was funny?
no, me either.
Submitted by MandaPanda (user info) at 2005-11-27 19:46:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I absolutely loved this.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-11-26 05:13:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Soley_Trinity (user info) at 2005-11-26 03:59:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-25 08:40:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-25 08:25:11 (#)
Ranking: 2
What's not light-hearted about that?
And I'm hearing you on the maigical powers/but only if you're not betting thing. I've seriously lost count of the number of times I've called the number as a spectator and then gone on a horrific losing streak when I start to bet.
-------
I reckon it's a trick of the mind like when people repress all their bad childhood memories, only remember the good ones and then bore people by telling them how ace it is to be a child/how innocent children are.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-25 08:25:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
What's not light-hearted about that?
And I'm hearing you on the maigical powers/but only if you're not betting thing. I've seriously lost count of the number of times I've called the number as a spectator and then gone on a horrific losing streak when I start to bet.
Submitted by shandythedog (user info) at 2005-11-25 03:54:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
that's strange, i didn't know other people had the same magical power to walk up to a roulette table and KNOW what the next number will be. my magical power usually departs though when i actuallyh start betting.
i myself was forced to depart from the table once - i was astonished and very offended when the bouncers escorted me out of the casino.
later my friend explained that i had been saying to him very loudly things like: "your dad raped you up the arse didn't he? how long did you say his cock was? 10 inches???? then lets bet on number fucking ten then!" and apparently smiling at the other players as if this was all light heartedly amusing.
Submitted by missedthepoint (user info) at 2005-11-23 08:19:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sam,
i've figured it out...
i think -
in the same meter, as Christopher Walken's speach...see below
http://www.devilducky.com/media/31791/ (worth the 70 second wait)
and i can dance like the motherfucker too (you'd better believe it mate) see below
http://www.stickfigureninja.com/display.php?galtype=3&page=1&picID=1
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-23 07:59:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by Flying_buttmonkey (user info) at 2005-11-23 07:37:35 (#)
Ranking: 2
Figured out where it was going but it didn't make it any less rocksome.
When are we all getting together again? We need another Ubercon UK. October's International Ubercon UK will take some beating.
---
I'm sure if you make the arrangements, people'll sign up.
Submitted by Flying_buttmonkey (user info) at 2005-11-23 07:37:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Figured out where it was going but it didn't make it any less rocksome.
When are we all getting together again? We need another Ubercon UK. October's International Ubercon UK will take some beating.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2005-11-23 06:59:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Best thing I've read since Les Pretend joined the Beano.
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2005-11-22 12:47:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
nice
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-22 10:22:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by missedthepoint (user info) at 2005-11-21 18:20:47 (#)
Ranking: 2
Yeah and have another 2 for the
Choppy fragmented style - it works &
y'know how much i love it...haha
--
hahaha!
at least I don't stop my sentances
halfway through and begin
on another line
for no apparant reason.
couldn't resist. And I thought you of all people would like the choppy style.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-21 23:22:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
moving.
<insert inane psuedo quip about just shagging her you homo here>
Submitted by userpete86 (user info) at 2005-11-21 19:57:24 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Like reading a good steinbeck novel.
Jk , this was good.
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2005-11-21 18:31:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good
Submitted by missedthepoint (user info) at 2005-11-21 18:20:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yeah and have another 2 for the
Choppy fragmented style - it works &
y'know how much i love it...haha
Submitted by Saxon (user info) at 2005-11-21 18:18:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Some good stuff spamy some good stuff.
Submitted by MyTeeOne (user info) at 2005-11-21 17:55:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wow...just wow.
Submitted by missedthepoint (user info) at 2005-11-21 17:22:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ka - Ching.... +2 all the way Sam
For some reason that second parragraph felt odd though?
I dunno?
Great idea... and well written as per usual.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-11-21 16:45:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
nice.
It threw me a little bit, because nothing ever closes in Vegas, but quite good.
Submitted by boomslang (user info) at 2005-11-21 15:22:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
http://www.ubersite.com/m/78631#1685740
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2005-11-21 12:53:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Interesting.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-21 12:26:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Blew me away
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2005-11-21 10:27:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
those three stories were awesome.
Submitted by w_t_a_y_s_t_r_m (user info) at 2005-11-21 10:09:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Fabit (user info) at 2005-11-21 10:08:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good work mr sam. Awesome writing as always.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2005-11-21 10:03:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This was damn good.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2005-11-21 09:48:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
this was really fucking good.
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2005-11-21 09:39:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Bloody well done! That was superb.
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2005-11-21 09:30:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have played roulette once in my lifetime, and I shit you not, red 23 came up at least six times in a total of about twenty spins.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2005-11-21 09:29:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fucking gorgeous.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-21 09:25:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I swear to God I'm gonna finish The 'Sacked' series but these casino posts just pop into my head from time to time and when they do, I've gotta get them written immediately.