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"If I had any other choice, I would've built something else. Maybe a bar. Maybe a carpentry shop. But you can't sell those to people in this district! No, it has to be something with a potential to swindle! Cheat! Nickel and dime every bit out of you!" He grips his free hand onto the edge of the desk with such force, you swear that he's about to shatter the damn thing.
"Then why not add some other avenues to profit? It's clear that this place can still be fair and honest without these drastic 'fairness' changes that harm you! More games of skill, more expensive food and drinks, maybe even cheat money out of this rich cunts who don't deserve it?" You try your best to offer him an out here. Something to fix his situation. Anything.
His snarl disappears. In its place is a simple, quiet frown. "Maybe. I could do that. But the moment the few sponsors I got see those changes, they'll make me throw everything out aside from the expensive hooch and steaks. Then they'll ask for those damn pan-chink machines."
Max offers him a look of understanding, "I get it. I deal with shitty sponsors too but surely, you could find better ones. Or just find a different job all together if you really don't want to run this?"
Adam mutters dismissively, "He's not the only one who's stuck here. He has a buncha people relying on him to do this. He can't exactly leave, can he?"
Casey tries her best to stay upbeat and positive, "S-surely, even if this place goes bangbang, boomboom, we would bounce back!"
Clover simply shakes his head at these responses. "This is the only option we have. Casey, Kana, Marla, Clyde, Me? We ain't got any other option. We might as well be vermin squirming around without this." His finger gently squeezes on the trigger, just barely not enough to make it fire. "Yer boss would just come in, tell me to make the slots fully rigged, and leave once yer ass is out. Ya know that, right?"
<<span class="mu-b">"She's not wrong. Hell, why am I even pointing this at her? Not like I can't back down now. Any ounce of respect I have left would disappear if I did."</span>> "You got a good heart, kid. I appreciate ya being honest with me. But we're both stuck on a leash. Mine's just a bit longer."
Benjamin glances between the two of you before focusing his gaze on you. "He might be right. Hell, Z-Corp has me on a leash now too." He then turns his attention to Clover. "But at least I still have my pals. I may not know Ashley or Adam or Casey that well but...we're pals. We help each other. Shouldn't you be doing your best to help your pals? Even in your undesirable position?"
Clover squirms at Benjamin's words. "Make your choice already. Call. Raise. Or fold?"
You look down at your hand, then at the community cards, then at Clover's facedown hand. You have no idea what your chances are here. Ultimately, it's a blind guess as to whether you have a chance of winning or not. Simple intuition now.
"I'm sorry." Max mumbles out.
"Don't be." Clover forces a smile.
