In The Tangiers

[ocean_danny]

Although Danny knew The Tangiers well enough, this was still Ginger's territory. Quite literally, in fact. As they entered, Ginger was still as close, overt and forthcoming as she had been across the road at the Grand. This surprised Danny, if he was honest, but guessed her relationship with her husband, who would no doubt be alerted to their

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[rothstein_ace]

As Ginger and her mystery man walked into the lobby, Billy Sherbert had already called Sam. Billy had received a call from the one of the pit-bosses, and Billy, in turn, had passed it on.

Sam walked towards them through the lobby looking left and right, surveying the scene around him also, but striding forward with a presence that suggested that this was not a pleasure, and yet still interfering with business. His matching suit, tie and watch gleamed like a beacon in the lobby. His shoes shone like they had been licked clean by lions with ebony tongues.

When he got to the pair of them, they had no option but to halt as Sam was imposing enough not to be avoided when he was in the mood to be so.

He look at Danny with a certain amount of disdain and curiosity, but didn't bother addressing him.

He nodded sagely to his wife before speaking. "Ginger." There was a distinct lack of warmth to speak of. A smile was having an equally difficult time in making an appearance.

[ginger_hustler]

Ginger was still riding on the thrill of the hustle and the euphoria of the subsequent line of coke she'd done in the restrooms right before they'd left the MGM Grand. Her arm had been tucked under Danny's as they'd arrived at The Tangiers, she hadn't bothered to extract it as her husband approached.

It wasn't like she was doing anything wrong she thought.

"Sam," she smiled confidently at him, a hint of 'just try to make this into a big deal' in her eyes, "This is Danny Ocean. Danny," she turned to smile at her companion, "My husband, Sam Rothstein."

[ocean_danny]

Danny would be lying to himself and anybody else who cared to listen if he tried to say he wasn't nervous about this. He knew what happened to people that Sam Rothstein didn't like. They usually found their way into the desert somehow, and normally it wouldn't be their choice which hole they ended up in.

It was a long time past that Danny's hands would shake, in any situation and whilst he may have been extremely wary, the smile would still fool anyone.

Danny offered that steady hand to Sam.
"I'm very pleased to meet you Sam," Danny said, holding eye contact with the bigger, broader man for as long as it took to show he wasn't going to be bullied by him.

[rothstein_ace]

He ignored the hand that was offered.

Sam looked from Ginger to Danny, his face remained stony and unmoved by Danny's comment. He consdiered his reply before answering the man.

"It takes balls to walk into my casino, with my wife on your arm, looking like you don't have a fuckin' care in the world."

He paused again, reading both of the faces standing in front of them, being interrogated like pair of students caught misbehaving in class.

"You're either very stupid, desperate, or really well connected. Now I ain't heard of you, so I doubt it's the last one, but you'd better fuckin' hope it isn't the first two."

[tess_ocean]

After Tess had staged her angry exit from any conversation that her ex-husband had apparently wished to have with her in the Grand, she'd gone up to her and Terry's apartment

[ocean_danny]

Tess may not have been able to see Danny, but Danny had a good view of her entering.

He made his excuses to Sam and Ginger and headed back out to the Lobby, where Tess was looking lost.

"You can't be as lost as you look." Danny said as he approached her, just out of her eyeshot.

[tess_ocean]

Tess was craning her neck, trying to see over the heads of the throngs of people that were bustling about in the Lobby, when she heard his voice and turned in the direction of the source.

"I thought for a minute there..." She stopped herself from finishing the sentence.

"Did I ever strike you as the type of woman who's used to visiting Casinos on her own Danny?" She smiled at him, even if her stomach was in knots.

[ocean_danny]

"Well, I don't think there is anything you wouldn't do, if the occasion called for it."

Danny guided her to a spare table in the lobby, all sumptuous leather seats and waiter service. As he sat across from her, the table separating them, he leaned forward towards her.

"I'm sorry about earlier. I came on too strong. I don't blame you one bit for running out on me."