[size=4]Chapter 4: The House Always Wins[/size]

[i]The Tops Casino
New Vegas, Nevada, Post-War Wasteland
One hours after Cetea T'Zumo's distress call

A man with slicked back black hair and a black and white checkered suit saunters into the bar of the Tops, a busy day of planning leads him to want to end the day with a few glasses of scotch.

Benny considers this a small treat to himself, a brilliant thinker, the man who will one day rule New Vegas. He deserves this, and the drinks are free for him, the head of the Chairmen, so why the hell not? The added chance of finding a pretty girl who'd want a one night stand only kept him walking into the large bar area, where several bottles of alcoholic beverages stood on the wall behind the counter.

As he scanned the room, he noticed a woman in a suit of armor he had never seen before tip her helmet up to take a drink from a glass of water. He could briefly make out a tuft of bright orange hair poking out from the back of her neck, and her visor provided a clear view of her face. Benny smirked to himself, he seemed to have found his lady for the night.

Sitting on a bar stool beside the woman, Benny tapped the counter. "Scotch, keep the rads out, you dig?" He said, his tone carried a casual swagger.

As he waited for his drink, he faced the orange haired woman beside him and looked down at her glass of water, "What's the matter baby? On a budget?" Said Benny, smiling slighty.

Azumi rolled her eyes, drinking half of the glass before looking over at him. "I'd rather keep from getting drunk on business," she said flatly. "Though drinking to forget someone trying a pickup line [b]did[/b] once cross my mind, it's not really a priority."

Benny chuckled, "Smarter than the average broad, but that's probably cause you don't know me. Name's Benny, and I don't think I've seen any broads wearing armor like yours, dig?" He said, before taking a small shot glass filled with scotch and draining it in one gulp. He then leaned onto the bar counter.

"I don't think you're here for our water, talk to me baby." Said Benny, and he indeed thought that Azumi, dressed in her armor, was here on business, not pleasure.

Well, at least he could think. She knew the name, though she didn't outwardly show how stupid she felt right then. She was here to talk with him. "Yeah, actually. I was here to do just that. See some strange woman run through here? Futuristic guns, not your standard energy weapons. Probably dark hair, or... well, you'd know if you saw her, trust me. She'd be looking to talk to you most likely."

Benny smirked, she was looking for somebody, this could go to his advantage. "I might have, but the question is: how badly do you need to know, baby?" Said Benny, who actually did know about the woman Azumi described from what his body guards had told him about the slightly awkward woman who had requested to see him. Of course, he merely told them to turn her away with a false promise to see her eventually.

"Badly enough to crack skulls if I don't find out," she threatened through a very thin veil.

"Easy there pussycat, I'm a reasonable guy. Ever hear the phrase 'You scratch my back, I scratch yours?' What do you have that I might want in exchange for any tasty tidbits I'd happen to know?" Said Benny, who expressed little fear. He didn't expect Azumi to attack him around his various bodyguards.

Cats. She wasn't racist, but cats were a sore subject. She frowned, giving him a death glare, before downing the rest of her drink. "Another, barkeep. Been out there for a while." She then looked his way again. "Aside from [b]that[/b], what would you [b]want[/b] from me?"

"Simple, I wanna see that broad you're chasin'. Don't ask why, and I won't tell you. So do we have us a deal?" Said Benny, who extended an open hand.

"Only if you don't harm her. At all," she said in return. "Do [b]we[/b] have a deal?"

Benny smiled slyly, "I won't harm a hair on her head, don't you worry at all, baby doll." He said, staring at Azumi, his hand still extended.

She frowned, thinking for a moment. If he was giving her a bad deal and lying to her, she could just save Cetea. Her stealth training had to mean something. So she shook. "Deal.

"Ring-a-ding-ding, baby. Here's all I know. The broad was last seen going into the Ultra-Luxe. Going on a guess here, but they might be planning to cook her. The White Gloves were always sneaky finks. So don't let their looks fool you, the whole lot of 'em are more crooked than a dog's hind leg," Benny then sat up, "That's all I got. Remember our deal, pussycat." Said Benny, before walking out of the bar."

A nod, again ignoring his nickname for her, and she downed the next glass as it came. Throwing down the right amount of caps, what funds she had taken from their Milky Way associates transferred to them by world magic, she walked out, heading to the door and on her way.[/i]

===

[i]Present day

The New Vegas strip[/i]

Cetea T'Zumo nodded silently after Azumi finished recounting her encounter with Benny, she was less nervous, but rather curious. Why did he want to see her after turning her away the first time?  The asari figured that her question would be answered when she and Azumi met with him.

"That was an interesting story, Azumi, Benny sounds as elusive as his reputation says about him." Said Cetea, stretching her arms as she approached the front doors of the Tops casino, advertised by a large neon ace of spades playing card. She had activated the same disguise she had in Gomorrah the previous day, for she had no desire to create another new appearance.

"Before you say anything, I will be cautious around him. Do not worry." Cetea added quickly, before stretching her back until it made a popping sound. Another day of rest, and Cetea felt that her combative ability was back to normal. Although she still hoped that a fight would not be needed.

Azumi was less than sure of herself with this. Of course, Cetea could probably handle him, but she hoped not in the particular way he wanted. That, and she only trusted him to make a deal, not to keep it. "If you say so," she said, depolarizing her visor and walking in through the doors.

As the two entered the Tops, they were immediately greeted by a man with slicked back black hair and a pristine grey suit. "Hey there baby dolls! Welcome to the Tops casino, gonna have to ask you two to hand over your weapons, you dig?" He said, pointing to a metal storage container beside the door.

Cetea nodded, depositing her Predator pistol and Shuriken sub-machine gun into the container.

As she did so, Azumi also did the same with her blades and handgun, albeit with a frown at the name. She didn't enjoy being treated like this.

After the two's weapons were secure, the receptionist smiled slightly, "Smooth an easy, I like it. Enjoy your time at the Tops." He said, not giving the two a second glance as they walked into the gambling area, a large room with numerous slot machines lined along the room.

As they walked towards an elevator that was guarded by a balding man in a black suit and fedora, Cetea looked at Azumi, "I can understand your... Displeasure at the titles given to us, but please remember that it is just part of the way people talk around here. It is not intended to be a personal insult." She said, having seen Azumi's reaction to the receptionist's speech.

She sighed. "I know, but I told you about last time." She just kept walking, wondering how exactly to get to Benny besides luck. "Any ideas?"

"Well... We can always improvise." Said Cetea, and as the two approached the guarded elevator, the man eyed them up and down.

"Can't let you in ladies, Benny ain't seein' anyone that don't have orange hair. Weird, I know." He said, chuckling. Cetea glanced at Azumi, her expression curious.

Azumi sighed, taking off her helmet briefly to show the man her short, orange hair. "Well?" With that, she put it back on, though kept it depolarized. "He did tell me to come with a friend, but if he just wants to see me, I'll go on up. You gonna let me by, man?"

The man shrugged, "You fit the bill, go on ahead." He said, before stepping aside to let the two into the elevator as the doors opened. "Thirteenth floor." He added, before lighting a cigarette and taking a small drag. Cetea nodded, entering the elevator after Azumi and pressing a glowing [i]13[/i] button near the door.

After the elevator doors shut, Cetea whistled to herself quietly, before facing Azumi. "Do you have an particular idea for how I should go about negotiating with Benny?" She asked, wanting to know if Azumi had discovered anything about Benny that she could factor into her tactics.

Azumi sighed. "Just be frank about what we want, and don't insult him, and we'll get out of this. Basically, be you, and be careful. Something tells me he doesn't think too savory in the way of how he wants to talk to you."

"I see... This should be easy then." Said Cetea, trying to reassure herself, before stepping out of the elevator doors and into a decorated hallway lined with doors. Cetea pointed to the only door that was large and metallic.

"That might be Benny's." She said, walking towards the door and rapping her knuckles across it.

"Come in!" Called a voice from inside the room, and as the two entered, they saw that Benny was sitting in an easy chair, sipping a small glass of wine in his usual black and white checkered suit. In front of him stood a table, along with two chairs.

"So you broke your lady friend out of the slammer? Nice going pussycat, and here I kept thinking I'd hear about you getting shot for breaking and entering. Take a seat, make yourselves nice and comfy." Said Benny, who motioned towards the two chairs.

Once Cetea and Azumi had taken their respective seats, Benny motioned to the bottle of wine with two glasses beside it.

Azumi shook her head. "No thanks. Told you the reasons," she said, trying as hard as she could to ignore the insulting nickname.

Cetea similarly shook her head, "I... Don't hold alcohol very well." She said, and Benny shrugged in response to their answers.

"Suit yourselves. So... Talk to me, why'd a broad like you want to talk to me in the first place?" Benny asked, and he smiled slightly as Cetea cleared her throat, ignoring his nickname.

"I have come to negotiate a trade agreement with the Tops casino and the Followers of the Apocalypse. We will send shipments of medical supplies in exchange for regular payments of caps. I think 1000 to 1300 a week would suffice." Said Cetea.

Benny stared at her for a moment, "The Followers, eh? Didn't care much for those baby faces. I don't think a few extra stim-paks and rad-x are a good enough trade either, what else do you have?" He said, his usual swagger vanishing, replaced by a tone of utmost seriousness.

Azumi nodded thinking a moment... and looked to Cetea. "How about a new machine? Some new game for them. Something the other casinos don't have."

Cetea nodded, "I know of one, Quasar, very addictive. I can 'acquire' a few of them." She said, and Benny stared at the two for a few more moments.

"...How do I know you ain't gonna play me? I ain't too fond of finks, baby." He said.

"You have my word." Replied Cetea, and Benny chuckled.

"I give people my word all the time, and I don't usually play the part they want me to. I think I'll need a bit more... Reassurance." Said Benny, who winked.

"If... Do you... Are you implying that we... We will [i]not[/i]!" Cetea said, indignant.

Azumi scowled, clenching a fist. "The answer was, and is, no. I knew you would do this. Planned on it, actually. On the other hand, I could get rather explosive backup that'll destroy this place pretty quick." She knew of the Followers' bad reputation, and it was a time to use it. "You ain't going under our belts, just your funds. Capiche?"

Benny smirked, "Yeah, I know those crazies like to bomb people, but they won't touch me. Not if their little songbirds get cooked before they can sing." He said, and he looked up at the two guards in black suits who had already entered the room, and each planted a silenced 10mm pistol to the back of Azumi and Cetea's heads.

Cetea only scowled, before diving to the floor and kicking the chair back into the guard, as he fell, pistol flew over the chair. Grabbing it, Cetea fired a silenced shot that hit the guard behind Azumi in the head, turning towards Benny, who drew an elaborately designed pistol from his jacket, she thrust her palm at him, which sent him flying back into a wall hard enough to knock a chunk off wallpaper off of the wall. As Benny stood up, coughing, Cetea was already upon him. Shoving him against the wall while clenching his coat, she pressed the barrel of her gun to his forehead.

"Listen to me, you pathetic wretch. I do not care if me killing you will ruin the plans of the Followers, I would rest easy knowing that I removed a cheating snake from this world. I am sure this is not the first time you have betrayed another, but you have chosen, unwisely, to attempt to murder us. In exchange for you keeping your brain matter inside of your head, you will send 2000 caps [i]per week[/i] to the Old Mormon Fort. If you try anything, anything at all that would break this arrangement, I will personally shoot my way into this casino and end your life myself. Are we clear?" Said Cetea in a deathly quiet whisper, and she knew that her emotions were speaking for her.

"Alright, alright! Y-You got a deal!" Said Benny quickly, and he fell to the floor as Cetea let go of his jacket.

Azumi had to admit it. That kind of freaked her out. She had never seen Cetea like that before. Of course, she had been about to beat down her assailant herself, nonfatally as promised, but this attitude... she'd never seen it. It was refreshing, but also a little shocking. She did react, though, turning to the guard that had been knocked down, she stomped on his face. Hard. There was a shout, but she kicked a raising hand, stomping once more for a knockout. Finally, however, she came to, standing and walking calmly over as if this were all according to plan, a slight frown on her face. "Good man. Now, any reassurance from you? You already screwed me on one deal, and planned to do so in more ways than one."

"I ain't gonna bail on ya, if that's what you mean, pussycat. I ain't gonna risk this crazy broa-" Said Benny, before a punch to his face knocked him back into the wall.

"Her name is Azumi, and mine is Cetea." Said Cetea, scowling down at Benny, who was holding a bloody nose.

"Right, Azumi.... I got it. I won't bail on ya, you'll get your caps. Now make like a tree, and get outta here." Said Benny, holding his nose to keep any blood from staining his suit.

Azumi grinned, nodding, and started for the door. "Cetea, you coming?" She threw a handful of caps back at him, from some work earlier in the day. "Get yourself cleaned up, man. You're bleeding." With that, she went for the door, hoping nobody was outside.