Some Nights I Stay Up, Cashing in my Bad Luck, Some Nights I Call it a Draw [May 1]

[dead_black_eyes]

Characters: L Lawliet, Bakura Ryou
Location: Starting at the apartment, ending in Las Vegas, baby!
Rating: PG for showgirls, and for L treating Bakura like a servant (wait, no, valet.)
Time: May 1, 4:00 PM to around 10:00 PM
Description: L has figured out where Light is hiding out after the cruel and humiliating "dinner party" events. But traveling without backup is a bad idea, and there are a lot of ways for two game-loving young guys to kill time before unfortunate quarries return to their crappy motel rooms.




L had not traveled outside Death City since arriving except through Shibusen's mirror transportation for missions. That made this a somewhat special occasion, but that being said, he was traveling very lightly. He had one change of clothes, Light's toothbrush (despite the fact that Bakura had bought him a whole stack of new ones), and his communicator, and that was about it. They barely filled half of the blue backpack L had chosen to carry his personal belongings, and so he filled the rest with candy.

He sounded like a piñata when he walked, but it was worth it to know that he would have snacks on the bus.

He waited expectently for Bakura to show up; the bus would be arriving within ten minutes, and while L was aware that Bakura was typically punctual, he would leave without him if he was late even this once.

Comments

[dead_black_eyes]

And L didn't wake up, not until the bus reached lurched gently as it stopped once they'd reached their destination.

It was kind of nice, the way the service dropped them off right at the door of their hotel. Which was, incidentally, something of a monster; L had chosen the largest, swankiest accommodations he could fine on short notice, and it happened to be the famous Caeser's Palace hotel, casino, and resort.

"Are we here already?" he asked, stretching and reaching into his pocket for another wad of bills to hand Bakura. Outside of Shibusen, it was unlikely that their "blank check" perks would be indulged, especially in and around casinos.

[shiromadoushi]

...somehow, Bakura shouldn't have been surprised. Though he was a little unsure as to how L was affording this...

"Yes, we've arrived," he nodded, keeping his language still formal as closed the book before carefully pocketing the bills. "You slept soundly the entire way."

Something that really, Bakura was grateful for, especially considering the detective's self imposed insomnia....

I CANNOT TRUST REPLYING FROM EMAIL, OH MY GOD D:<

[dead_black_eyes]

L had a roommate and lived frugally. Really, he could afford the occasional lavish set of expenses. When he went all-out, he did, in fact, go all-out, but typically a case had to be involved for it to go quite this far.

"Here's the itinerary. Listen carefully... We're going to check in under your name, settle into the hotel room, and then we will mingle with the crowd, appearing to enjoy ourselves while I keep my eyes open for my quarry. Of course..." He paused meaningfully. "If we just happen to incidentally enjoy ourselves, there's nothing wrong with that at all. I hope you're ready to play cards."

*pat pat*

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura couldn't help grinning at that. Really, him? Ever not ready to play a game?

"Of course," he nodded, heading out of the bus to where their luggage was waiting. "You'll be playing as well, I assume?"

Between the two of them... Bakura was sure they could do quite well. Maybe well enough to cover all the catering Ryuzaki had been having Bakura do for him lately...

[dead_black_eyes]

"A bit, yes," L answered, heading for the front desk and standing aside so that Bakura could handle the distasteful servant-business of checking into the hotel.

The young man glanced up, flashing Bakura a grin. "Welcome. Name and check-in time?"

[shiromadoushi]

With how often Bakura had switched apartments in his life, signing into a hotel was one step away from second nature, which no doubt helped the illusion of being L's valet. Minutes later he handed L his keycard and picked up their luggage once more before heading for the stairs, having made sure to ask where they had been located. Much as an elevator would have been nice for the suitcase, he knew Ryuzaki well enough to not even bother asking.

[dead_black_eyes]

Bakura's instincts were dead-on. Lwould, true to form, rather climb six flights of stairs than spend even thirty seconds on an elevator. "I believe I'll be playing Blackjack, most likely, as it has the best odds and is the easiest to cheat at."

He was so horribly blunt about it that any true-blue gamer would likely find it shocking. But he was blunt about it in Japanese, which was far less likely to be picked up by any curious ears nearby.

[shiromadoushi]

"You really think you'll need to cheat?" Bakura asked, voice amused as he easily slipped into his native language. "Or is it just insurance against stacked odds?"

Since Bakura was sure the house would have its tricks to insure it didn't lose more money than it had to.

[dead_black_eyes]

"I don't need to," L scoffed, as if that was obvious. "But I count cards, and I'm good at it. You should know that, and you should therefore be prepared to leave quickly if we need to. You should also know that we're going to be leaving with more money than we showed up with, so if you want something, let me know and I'll give you the money for it after a few hands. Unless, of course, you're doing just as well, in which case... don't bother me."

He started up the third flight of stairs, seeming unusually energetic, with a slight bounce in his step.

[shiromadoushi]

It took most of Bakura's self control not to laugh fondly at the spring in Ryuzaki's step, even as he trailed behind with the awkward of the suitcase slowing him down. "Got it!" he grinned. "Just be sure you comment on your good luck, you should be able to last longer before people catch on that way~" he advised. "Or even make up some story that a fortune teller told you you'd have great fortune if you gambled today."

People who gambled were pretty superstitious, after all. Everything was all about luck, or so they claimed.

[dead_black_eyes]

L glanced sidelong at his friend.

"You seem to know a lot about cheating, for someone who maintains such an honest front."

[shiromadoushi]

"Aaaa---" Bakura rubbed the back of his neck with a small laugh. "It's nothing like that! Sometimes it's just good for people to think things like that. And it's sometimes pretty fun to get someone to think that a trick is just good luck."

Especially when that someone was as gullible as Jounouchi was...

[dead_black_eyes]

L cleared his throat, pausing on the landing before they climbed their sixth and final staircase.

"We'll have fun for a better part of this evening, but expect me to be scarce, especially after a certain time of night. If I seem to disappear, only take action if I don't return before we check out tomorrow morning."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura nodded, sobering at the reminder. "Any instructions for what to do if that does happen? Places to check or people to call...?"

Hopefully he wouldn't have to... but.... if Ryuzaki was going to be in danger, he was there to help.

[dead_black_eyes]

"The police might be a good start," L said dryly, but he knew what Bakura was really asking.

"Call Gamzee. If he's not available, Near, Mello, and Matt, in that order. It shouldn't be a problem, though."

There was, after all, a reason they weren't along with L on this "mission", which was dubious in itself.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura nodded. "I wasn't sure if you'd want the police involved..." Since L really wasn't the sort to do most things by the proper channels...

"And hopefully it won't be. Else I'd say we should get you a tracker or something like that," he continued with a smile. Sometimes he felt as if this were a good idea in general, considering L... but he knew the man would never consent to one. Too paranoid.

[dead_black_eyes]

"The police have their uses," L said, his tone bored and blase. "When it comes to missing persons cases, they can be relatively effective if you can provide them with enough information, which you should be able to."

Besides, getting them involved was much better than getting his protective successors or partner involved. They would be less than pleased if they knew his aim for the evening.

"So. You brought your suit? We'll probably head straight down to the casino, unless you're hungry."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura nodded, reaching down to tap on his suitcase. "Yup! And shoes to match!"

As well as a tie for his hair. It was impossible to make it look respectable, but at least when it was tied back, it only looked like a mess from the back.

"And I'm fine. We can go for dinner after." When he'd actually have (hopefully) won the money to pay for one, since he was sure it would be expensive....

[dead_black_eyes]

"Yes," L said, after a moment of thought as he slid their room's card key through the door, handing a duplicate to Bakura before pocketing his own and holding the door open with his foot.

"You can change. I'm fine as I am," he said, flopping onto one of the two queen-sized beds and flipping through the phone book for no apparent reason... but rather odd purpose.

"If you bring anyone back here, by the way, let me know first. That way I can be scarce."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura paused, turning to blink at his friend. "Why would I bring anyone back here...?"

[dead_black_eyes]

"To sleep with, perhaps. You'll look your nicest in that suit, probably, so it's a chance, at least."

[shiromadoushi]

"... I don't think there's any worry about that..."

As if he would just pick someone up like that... Not even Takuto was that bad!

[dead_black_eyes]

"Suit yourself. By which I mean, put yourself in that suit. The sooner you're ready, the sooner I can go downstairs with you. And behave like I'm too wealthy and eccentric to care what people think of what I'm wearing."

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura covered a small laugh before hefting the suitcase onto the other bed to open it. "The eccentric part is easy enough," he teased gently, carefully pulling out the black formal wear.

[dead_black_eyes]

"And the wealthy part used to be true," L said. "It's not as if I've forgotten what it's like."