Nathan and Haroun, Monday night

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In Vegas, Nathan and Haroun sneak away for an hour or two, purportedly to get a look at another casino - the Luxor - for comparison's sake. Really, it's just an excuse to get away, and maybe to talk over a few things...



Haroun looked up at the gigantic neon-lit pyramid and rolled his eyes. Even though it was well after sundown, he was wearing his traditional Arab garb - all a part of the costume, of deflecting attention away from the role he'd be playing in a few days. "Dayspring, I am going to kill you." he muttered to himself, and then walked into the casino. He was immediately assaulted by the rows and rows and rows of immaculate slot machines, followed by the croupiers and the dealers playing a dizzying array of games of chance, separating the tourists from their money.

#Not in public, Haroun. It'd draw too much attention,# came a familiar amused voice in his head. There was a tug at his mind, drawing his attention over to a table where Nathan, wearing an immaculate all-black suit, was sitting and apparently devoting all his attention to the game.

Haroun walked over to Nathan's table, taking an available slot at the table. He put down a modest pile of chips and smiled charmingly at the attractive young dealer who was just wrapping up a round. #Ninja garb? Forge must be tickled pink.# he thought at Nathan as he waited to be dealt in.

#He may have done a double-take when I left. I may have posed, just a little.# Nathan told himself that reading his fellow players' minds was unethical. Really. Shouldn't be doing it. Especially not just because the Luxor didn't seem to have much in the way of psi-suppressant gear installed on the gaming floor.

#Security around here is insane. I counted ten on the floor, plus eyes-in-the-sky over each table. If we're going to do this, we're either going to need an inside man or a truly insane plan.# he thought at Nathan, then glanced at the cards he'd been dealt. When the bet came to him, he hit once, and then stood at 19. A waitress wandered over to offer him a drink, but seeing his traditional Moorish garb he changed his offer to a bottle of water, which was gratefully accepted.

#The latter, Haroun. Definitely the latter. And LeBeau is aiming to provide.# Nathan accepted a drink from another waitress and took a carefully measured sip.

Haroun glanced at Nathan, and then for good measure measured up the guy sitting next to him as well. "Drat." he said, as the house took the round and his chips with it. #I can't wait to hear it.# he thought sarcastically. #We do this wrong, this is going to be a bloodbath.#

#I'm concerned about the kids,# Nathan admitted. He had done considerably better in this last round than Haroun had. #But that's why we're here.#

#Exactly.# he thought back, then sipped from his very clean, very cold, very expensive bottle of water. #And watch it on the alcohol. We need you clear-headed.# The next round went well, with Haroun holding on a 20 and a substantial part of his remaining funds invested.

#I'm well aware of the fact that I have the alcohol tolerance of a twelve year-old girl these days. I don't really need the reminder.# Nathan casually scanned the mind of the player next to him. #Very little in the way of psi-suppressant gear out here on the floor in this casino, at least.#

#Is that because they're being subtle, or because it's not there?# he thought back as he let his gaze wander around the casino. #You know, I think I hate this casino. The fake-Egypt stuff is really offensive. I've been to Cairo. It's the armpit of North Africa.#

#It's supposed to be offensive, I think,# Nathan sent back, his mental tone deadpan. #As for the psi-suppressants... they might be there. They don't appear to be jamming me, though.#

Haroun nodded at Nathan, and then collected his winnings for this round - he'd managed to take a round for once. #I think I'm going to have to buy Alison some gifts while I'm here.# he mused. #She wasn't terribly happy that I was going in the first place.#

#I can't imagine she would have been. I have no doubt that Moira's back in Westchester fretting, too. I think it was the whole 'going with LeBeau AND kids' that really got her.#

#You can just think at her - I have to pick up a phone and hope she's having a good sound and nerves day.# he grumbled mentally. Physically, he placed his bet with a negligent flip of his wrist, playing the part of a bored rich Arab out for a good time. #So what do you think I should get her?#

#My suggestion? Southwestern-style jewelry is pretty and won't break the bank account.# Nathan took the next round, smiling blithely at the dealer.

#She doesn't strike me as a big jewellery person.# he pointed out. #Although she did like the pendant I got her in London. I'll look into this Southwestern jewellery you mentioned. Can you show me what it looks like? I'm not an American, I have no idea.# he admitted sheepishly, then took another sip of his water and looked around boredly.

#Sure. And the good thing about say, the Navajo stuff is that it tends to have meaning to it. Which I think would appeal to Alison.# He bowed out of the game at the next round and rose. #Look, follow me in ten minutes and meet me at King Tut's tomb? I'm feeling a little exposed.#

#Will do.# he thought back, then set his mind to winning these next few rounds of blackjack.

It was a real relief to get out of the open. The replica of King Tut's tomb wasn't all that busy, and Nathan staked out a spot on a bench in the viewing room, idly projecting a 'don't notice me' suggestion that seemed to be working just fine. All of the drilling Charles had done with him before he'd left had definitely had an effect.

Haroun followed him out precisely ten minutes later, a much larger stack of chips in an inside pocket of his robes. #It's a good thing I don't get cold. Las Vegas is a desert, yes, but it gets _cold_ out here at night.# he groused. He was astute to pick up on the don't-notice-me projection he was sending, and decided to risk verbal communication. "This is gonna be ugly. I just hope LaBeau knows what he's doing."

"I trust him," Nathan said quietly. "To an extent. I believe he'll do what's necessary to get the job done, but I'm not so sure about his definition of necessary."

"That's what worries me as well." he admitted. "But the Professor's vouching for him, and if he really is - was - Gambit..."

"He was," Nathan said simply. "Doubt what you want, but don't doubt that." He smiled a bit faintly. "Did I tell you he and I have crossed paths before? Both when I was at Mistra and afterwards."

Haroun shook his head. "No, you didn't mention that." he said with amusement. "Since you're still here, I'd say it went well."

"Well, I wouldn't say that," Nathan said dryly. "He killed one of my Mistra team the second time. The third time, I shot him."

Haroun chuckled. "And you're working with him, so I'd say that you've patched things up quite nicely."

"Well, that's the thing. He's not really Gambit." Nathan's eyes went a bit distant as he strengthened the telepathic suggestion. "Which is a very good thing, don't get me wrong, but I'm wondering how he'll react when push comes to shove. If it does."

"I think it's our job to make sure it doesn't come down to that." he said with a shrug. "Less stress, less chance of Gambit coming back."

"Why did I agree to this again?" Nathan asked rhetorically. "Oh, right. The kids. I think we can depend on Wanda if things go to hell, too... I'm glad Remy decided he wanted her along."

Haroun nodded. "We can." he said definitively. "I've fought alongside of her. Nasty tendency to not look where she's swinging, but she can take care of herself just fine." he said with a grin. "Just watch out for your nose."

"You realize we're back-up, too," Nathan said more seriously, looking sideways at him. "If it does go to hell. Charles is counting on us to get the kids out if it comes to that."

"I figured that was our job here. Referee and chaperone and last-ditch safety valve. If it comes down to that, get as many of them out and don't look back. I'll do the same. It's up to us, old man."

"So long as they survive," Nathan murmured. "Everything else is negotiable." Keeping the telepathic suggestion up was starting to wear on him and he sighed, rubbing at his eyes. "Okay, I think you need to go find another game or something. I can't do this for too much longer."

Haroun nodded. "Sounds like a plan. I'll go try my luck at slots for a while, then I need to go check in with Alison." he said with a shameless grin. "Poor thing is all alone, after all. She's very much with the woe."

"Good luck with it. I'm just going to sit here and commune with Tut for a while," Nathan said and closed his eyes as he heard Haroun get up and move away. Let's see just how much of a headache that little trick leaves me with...

#Tell Tut I said hello.# Haroun thought at Nathan, and then wandered back into the casino to investigate the slot machines.