First Night in Toronto - Metro: Toronto by Night

Metro: Toronto by Night - Wednesday, June 09, 2004, 7:02 PM

You walk past someone dressed as Queen Elizabeth II into the elegant Windsor Palace Casino.
Windsor Palace - Casino Floor


Luxury, money, bright lights, and greed. This casino spreads out far and wide, decorated in a British Imperial fashion. The walls rise high and are pained a marble white. The ceiling gives way to high arches, and hanging chandeliers that glisten and gleam. The walls hold regal paintings of nobility and castle scenes set in antique looking gold frames. In the center of the room is a large fountain, a marble replica of the one at Buckingham Palace. The room is a bustle with movement, waitresses dressed in skimpy white dresses wearing Tiara's carry drinks. Men dressed in tuxedos tend the games, and security.

The casino is filled with a variety of games for you to loose your hard-earned money. Slot Machines, Craps, Roulette, Poker, Black jack and others are set up around the casino. Excitement swirls around each table as there are winners and losers. The sound of cheers, curses, and card shuffling blend into the life music coming from the stage area.

To the side of the room is a long polished oak bar. Tables sit set with candles for patrons wanting a cocktail, or a bite of British cuisine from the master chefs. Around the dining area are pedestals set with marble replicas of British Palaces on display.

Contents:
Gentleman John

The door of the Windsor Palace swings open as a rather tall older gentleman in a long trench coat and black fedora walks into the room. Standing to the side he holds the door open and glances outside as if waiting for someone.
A young woman, barely 4'5" enters through the door way and smiles up at the man then pats him right below the elbow as that is as far as she can comfortably reach, in a reassuring and motherly manor, "Come on, I'll buy you a drink," say Anni as she makes her way towards the hotel bar.

And the machine of greed goes on.

Whilst well-dressed folk crawl around everywhere, spinning wheels and playing cards, losing their cash in time-honored fashion; and then there's the Gent, who seems to be perfectly pleased to sit and play....Pai Gow. This, to the gambling public, is known as 'slumming it'; the simple two-hand game is simple and considered rather low class - nevertheless the Gent seems to be doing rather well for himself. Smiling like a white-suited fiend, he's laying out the cards for another pair of hands.


Walking along the crowded room making a direct beeline to the bar Anni stops as her path is blocked by man in a security outfit, "I'm sorry sir you granddaughter will have to stay outside." he says to Wulf as he motions towards Anni. "Excuse me? There is no way I'm his granddaughter, those thing shriveled up a long time ago," declares Anni as she looks over at Wulf, "show him," she adds with all seriousness. Giving a little sigh Wulf begins to reach for his belt as the startled guard yelps, "Woa, wait a minute."

Well...that's interesting. Past the shoulder of the dealer the Gent squints faintly at the two who've just arrived, sighing very faintly as he does so - that's just what we need, some girl and her nutter grandfather.

Laughing at both men's obvious displeasure Anni motions for the guard to bend down. "Let me buy my," she peers at Wulf then turns back to the now bent over guard, "ah ...friend a drink." She grins at the man as he nods his head and moves from their path, "Thank you," she chimes at him as she moves past.

With that grin still etched upon his lips, the Gent turns back to his cards - playing another hand, and this one losing though he doesn't seem to mind.

Approaching the bar Anni stops and eyes the high bar stool, "Well this sucks," she mutters as she glances over at the nearest card table seeing the smaller chairs. "Here," she pouts as she hands Wulf a wad of money then turns and stomps over to the card table.

Aaaaand...here she comes. The Gent forks over a few chips (Pai Gow isn't but five or ten bucks a hand, after all) and proceeds to eye you as you approach - smiling, still, though his eyes glitter searchingly. Perhaps he recognizes you.

<<<<<<Gentleman John

Sharp suit, skinny tie, a shark's gleaming grin - these are the heralds of Tommy the Gent, seeming to show up before he does like a demented Cheshire cat. Tall and neatly built, the fellow compliments well the neat lines of the suit that encapsulates him without fail: long arms and legs serve as pinions to a broad and sharply tapering trunk, the tracks of a body young and strong. He's a handsome sort, sharp of bone and high of cheek with a strong nose that resembles a hawk's heavy beak and cornflower eyes that glitter with a devilish fire. Black brows and curls frame that face, bushy eyeframes shadowed by a close-cropped and impeccably gelled coiffure; his mouth, lush-lipped, is nearly always spread into a grin that crackles with a confident fire. He's a card, this one, most certainly.

Three-piece white encases the tall shark; raw silk and expensive, his jacket's shoulders are wide and fashionable and the crease of his pants sharp enough to split steel. Black satin gleams pearlescent across his breast and a sharp tie snakes down his torso like a river of snow. All in white, the good guy, just like in the movies - sharp as a tack, or at least the edge of freshly-minted bills.>>>>>>

"Hi," Anni says as she smiles over at the man in the blinding white suit, feeling like she needs to squint or throw something at it so the shine will go away, "I like your suit," she says with a cheerful tone as she slides onto a vacant seat and looks down at the green felt table so the bright white spots will disappear. "So what are we playing?" she swings her legs as she struggles to move the chair closer to the table.

Gentleman John is all smiles as you settle down, blinding white teeth to match his blinding white suit - he gestures to the pair of seven-card hands laid down before him. "Pai Gow is the name of the game, luv," he drawls in a very heavily accented British tenor, "Seven card poker, two hands. Have you played before?"

"I don't normally play with /cards/," says Anni returning the bright smile as she exchanges her money for chips, "You're a Brit aren't you? Why don't you teach me?" She moves the chips closer to her side of the table.

A chuckle from the Gent - he gestures down at the two hands now being collected by the dealer and shrugs. "It's quite simple, really," he says, "Have you ever played poker before?”

"Well, yeah," Anni mutters as she grabs a chip and begins twirling it in her hand watching it slowly spin, "So are you?"

"I am indeed," says the Gent with a nod, the corners of his mouth tugging ever upward in amusement. "Now then. Pai Gow is quite simple, as I said before - the dealer deals two hands of seven cards for both sides. If both hands win, you win; if one hand wins, you push. Of course, if neither win..." He shrugs as his both hands turn up losing to the dealer, and a small number of his chips are pulled across the table.

"Whoa okay," nods Anni as she slides two chips across the table to the dealer. "This is a great chip. It just spins so nicely, no wobble or anything." she absently adds as she continues to spin the chip.

Gentleman John eyes you just a moment before flicking his fingers for the dealer to bring another hand. "The trick about Pai Gow," he says, "Is that it's an excellent game to play if you want to gamble and amuse yourself without losing the whole kit, you see?"
He adds, "Very inexpensive betting."

"Where is the skill in it?" Anni asks as she motions for Wulf to approach, "Helloooo," she smiles and pats the seat beside her.

"Gambling rarely has anything to do with skill," says the Gent with a shrug. "More to do with amusing oneself, or fleecing the other fellow." He gives the dealer a wink. "Eh? Eh?"

Nodding his head in acknowledgment Wulf lowers his bony frame onto the chair then turns his attention to the fruity concoction in his hands. "Your such a girl," Anni drawls as she spots the drink then looks down at her cards, missing the look of hatred upon Wulf's face.

Gentleman John snorts faintly, nodding friendly-like to the old man settling down next to you. "Evening, sir," says the Gent to Wulf, tapping a finger on the table. "Care to join me in a hand of Pai Gow, eh?"

"Na, he's drinking his girly drink," Anni drawls and looks at her hand again, "Hmm, this wins doesn't it?" she questions as she lays her cards on the table. The cards read Queen of Hearts, Jack of Spades, King of Diamonds, 7, 8,6, 2 all of diamonds.

"Yes, it does," says the Gent with a chuckle, shaking his head at the hands. "Beginner's luck it is, and good for you, eh?"

"If you say so," Anni smiles over at the Brit in the white suit, "So what do people call you, Whitey?"

Gentleman John chuckles, arranging his chips as if ready to leave. "You can call me...the Gent," says he, moving to stand. "And this is where I take my leave. I'm sure I'll see you around, eh? Bird like you I'd be able to spot a mile away and sure enough."

"Is that in quotes, Whitey?" Anni asks of the man as he stands, "That's cool, bye," she lays all her chips but the one spinning between her fingers on the table. "You want another ball shrinking drink?" she says as she grins at the old man.