1.10 | Aces Wild

After weeks of fundraisers, campaigning, and promoting myself like a whore, Election Day came to Lucky Palms like a plague. I was nervous, but tried not to show it as I greeted my colleagues and supporters at the Election Day Party I was throwing at the local park, the same park I loved to play guitar in.

“Jin! You’ve got this in the can! I can’t wait until you’re the mayor.” One of my biggest supporters, a lady named Kyra, called out to me as she headed towards the buffet table.

“Oh, let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” I laughed nervously. I couldn’t’ stop sweating and I was starting to wish that I had worn something less conservative. I guessed it wouldn’t have helped, though. It wasn’t even a hot day, I was just ridiculously nervous.

Supporters came and went, some just stopping by to wish me luck and others staying until the announcement was made. The day passed by slowly, and as evening came, I decided to pull out my guitar to help calm my nerves. It didn’t help that the two most important people had yet to show up – Sammi and Naomi.

I thought back to the last time I had seen Sammi. She hadn’t even bothered to say hello to me at Norville’s party and had barely looked my way. I kind of understood then that she was upset because I had kind of yelled at her for bad talking Naomi, but I thought we would have moved past that by now. I didn’t plan on apologizing because I didn’t think I had anything to apologize for, so maybe that’s why Sammi had been so distant. I didn’t plan on sucking up to her though. She – and the majority of the town, really – had been beyond wrong in the way she talked about Naomi. It wasn’t fair to judge her and call her a nut case just because she believed in extraordinary things. Maybe once upon a time I would have dismissed her beliefs as quickly as these people had, but I certainly couldn’t do that now. Not now that I myself was in a way an extraordinary thing. Maybe not extraordinary, but certainly supernatural.

I was in the middle of “Read My Mind” by The Killers when Naomi showed up. I nearly leapt with excitement but tried to contain myself as I put my guitar in its case and rushed over to greet her.

“Naomi! I’m so glad you’re here. I…I didn’t think you were coming.”

Naomi greeted me with a hug and a smile. “Jin, I’m so sorry! I got caught up at work and then lost track of time. I planned on being here sooner but…ugh! Anyway, how are you? Besides sweaty.”

I laughed. “Nervous as hell. I’m ready to get this over with.”

Naomi nodded and reached for my hand, squeezing it affectionately. “Don’t worry. You’re gonna win this.”

“Thanks, Naomi.” I told her and meant it. I squeezed her hand back and when she didn’t let go, I didn’t complain nor pull away. It felt nice to connect with someone physically and it not freak me out. After all, it was completely innocent.

“Are you coming to the casino afterwards?” I asked her. The plan was that if I won, I would take my Election Day Party to the newly opened Aces Wild Casino & Resort to celebrate. And if I lost, I would take my Election Day Party to the newly opened Aces Wild Casino & Resort to drink and laugh it off. Either way, everyone would probably end up totally drunk.

Naomi nodded, but looked a little reluctant. “Sure. I don’t normally go to those kinds of places, but for you, I’ll be there.” She smiled.

Before I could ask why she was so reluctant, the radio that had been playing the Top 40 countdown fritzed into a local news bulletin. Everyone knew what was coming – the election results – and we all crowded around to listen.

“This is Susan Newsworthy coming to you live from City Hall in Lucky Palms where the results of this year’s Mayoral election have been revealed! With a wopping 76% landslide win, Lucky Palms can say hello its shiny new mayor…Mister Jin Lai!”

I nearly fainted.

Naomi and I stood outside Aces Wild. Everyone had already gone inside, but I was so shaky that I didn’t think I could go in just yet.

“Jin, aren’t you excited?” Naomi asked me softly. “Or are you having second thoughts?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m definitely excited! I guess I’m just…scared, too. I mean, I don’t want to screw up. Being Mayor is kind of a big deal, or it is to me anyway. What if I end up selling Lucky Palms to Russia or something?”

Naomi laughed. “You’re a lot funnier now than you were when I met you,” She reached for my hand again and, again, I let her take it. “You’re going to be amazing, Jin. It’ll be bumpy at first, sure. But first jobs are always bumpy at first. You’ll get the hang of it and then you’ll be unstoppable.”

I looked at her, silent. She was so smart, I thought, and so easy to talk to. No matter what was up, she knew just what to say to make me feel better. How could people talk about her the way they did? If they took the time to get to know her, they would see just how amazing she truly was. But that was their loss. I was grateful to know her the way I did.

“Naomi, I don’t know what I would do without you,” I told her, and she tried to hide the fact that she was blushing.

“Whatever, Jin,” She scoffed and shoved me playfully. “Let’s go in here and watch some people lose their minds!”

I chased her through the entrance, stopping only to show our IDs to the bouncer past the first set of doors. Past the second set of doors, both Naomi and I stopped to take in the sight of what was referred to as the “floor” of the casino. Different gambling tables were set up everywhere and I was surprised there were no slot machines. I guess this place was intended for hardcore casino fans only.

“Wanna play a hand of poker?” I asked Naomi, but she shook her head.

“No, I’ll leave that to you. I’m gonna go check out the lounge, okay?” She said, and when I nodded, she flashed me a smile before heading for the entrance to the lounge on the left side of the room. I got the feeling Naomi didn’t care for gambling, but I appreciated the fact that she didn’t try to preach to me about it. I had never really gambled before, but I liked watching poker tournaments until I fell asleep sometimes, so I headed to the poker table to play a few hands.

I kept losing, but I still kept betting until I ran out of poker chips. It was fun, but thankfully I didn’t see myself getting addicted. After my chips ran out, I texted Naomi and told her to meet me in the restaurant on the other side of the casino.

I had just sat down when Naomi rushed in and sat down across from me. I noticed she was wearing her work uniform and I frowned. “You just got off work,” I complained and she shrugged her shoulders.

“I know! But I’ve got to head back in soon. Don’t worry, I told them I was having dinner with my close friend the mayor first,”  She smiled, reaching for her menu. “Did you have fun at the tables?”

“Oh sure, except for losing all my money,” I rolled my eyes. “What about you? How was the lounge?”

“Lounge-y,” She grinned, and I thought then that she might be a little tipsy. “The drinks were nice, but the live singer was trying a little too hard to be Lana Del Rey. Spoiler alert, it wasn’t working.”

I laughed. “Why didn’t you come play poker with me? I know you said you don’t really like these kinds of places, but…”

Naomi shook her head. “It’s not that, really. I know that’s what I said, but … I guess places like this just hold bad memories for me.”

I nodded. “I understand. I’m sorry.” I wanted to know more, but I didn’t want to come off as nosy. “We don’t have to stay here – we could go check out that new Mexican restaurant that just opened!”

“No, this is great! I hear the food here is amazing,” She smiled at me. “Don’t worry, Jin. It’s fine.”

The waiter came and took our orders, although she warned that mine might take a bit longer. I didn’t mind, and insisted Naomi eat up since she was needed at work. We made small talk until her food arrived and then she dove in while I asked her about the space rock she had found.

“That’s why I have to go in again,” She replied, shaking her head. “I honestly never thought a space rock would be so much work. But it contains a brand new element, like I told you before, and it seems to have some kind of weird magnetic properties. It’s hard to explain, but I’ll email you a copy of my article on it if you want.”

“Can you do that?” I asked, frowning. I didn’t want Naomi getting in trouble and possibly losing the rights to something so cool.

She nodded. “Of course! Technically, it’s an independent study – I’m just using my work resources, and also my lab partner. But even if it wasn’t, you’re the mayor now. You’ve got some pull.” She winked, and I couldn’t help but laugh. Mayor Lai – now that was going to take some getting used to.

She was finished with her dinner before mine ever arrived. She tried to stay, but I made her go back to work.

“Mayor’s orders,” I grinned. “I refuse to keep you away from your life changing space rock.”

“Yes, sir!” She laughed, and gave me a quick hug before she left the restaurant. I watched her walk away with an odd fascination, but shook myself out of it once my food arrived. I’d see Naomi again soon. What was so enthralling about watching her walk away?

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Edit: The Aces Wild Casino and Resort was made entirely by me using some of the casino content from the Sims 3 store and some bits and pieces of CC for the decor.