This section contains the entries to the pub competition in the order in which they were received.
Pub Name: Demonico's
Proprietor: Demon
An upscale night spot catering to your every whim. You are allowed entrance with the proper credentials and/or reservations. A gated, winding drive takes you through wooded groves until you arrive at the entrance of the refurbished mansion. A valet parks your car and you enter the Lobby through the shining glass doors. In the lobby you decide where you are going and what you are doing this evening. Dancing? Dining? Or heavy drinking in the pub can all be easily accomplished.
As you enter Demonico's, the dark rich wood attracts your attention. Mahogany and teak are used to impart visual delight. Torches and small sconces light the halls, held in place by fierce looking carved gargoyles. The plush areas of thick maroon carpeting tempt you to take off your shoes and snuggle your toes in the nap.
Want just a quick snack? Then chose The Pub, a small alcove room that is a great place to meet with friends both new and old after a good night of Holy Warring. A drink or a sandwich, it is your call. Feel free to squeeze in a game of darts or pool as you wish. Feeling shy tonight? Then grab a drink and make your way to The Great Library. Curl up in a huge leather chair in front of the fire with a brandy and a classic book. Satiate your growing appetite in the small more formal Dining Room which offers a varied selection on a set menu that is guaranteed to please.
A large Dance Hall that was once a storeroom in the back of the mansion, is designed for lots of hard dancing. Speakers, fog machines and zippy lights compliment the music cranked out by some of the finest spin jockeys in the city. The gleaming dance floor invites you to shake a leg with your date. The dimly lit Patio beyond the dance area is enticing for a bit of fresh air, a smoke as you wander the graveled walkways or a clandestine meeting with your new paramour.
Speaking of love, decided you just can't wait to get to know your new love better? Hoof it to the front desk and reserve yourself one of 6 themed bedrooms to romp in. From The Desert of Egypt Room to the Jungle Paradise, you will be pampered and delighted by our staff and your adored one in one of our secluded upstairs rooms. Jacuzzis, water beds, waterfalls, breakfast in bed. The choice is yours. Reserve a room now to give the gift that keeps on giving to your loved one.
Three rules are in place at Demonico's. All clan troubles are left at the door, everyone is treated with polite courtesy and please do NOT touch the gargoyles on the walls. They have been known to bite.
Establishment Name: Merovingian Club & Pub
Proprietor: Unknown
Sitting in a pristine valley is a rather large building made of rough hewn sand and fieldstone. It is four stories high with round turrets at every corner and wrought iron balconies whose center points bear the entwined initials G&S on each floor connecting the turrets.
The roughhewn steps are cut into the slope of a hill which the building sits upon. At the top a long walkway leads to the imposing front doors engraved with the same insignia as the balcony. In the center of the pathway is a life size statue of Gevurah and Starr entwined in a loving embrace and around this a lovely fountain sends crystalline waters shooting up to adorn the statue like droplets of dew.
Behind this imposing edifice is a lake which shimmers in the moonlight and reflects the snowcapped mountain peaks behind it. A stand of trees proving the forest is not far off either stands to the east along with a large stable for horses and carriages.
The walls of the building are covered by hundreds of years of ivy and rose vines growth giving the building a warmth and charm unusual in such a large estate. Above the large double doors is a coat of arms with the words "Merovingian Club & Pub" written on it.
On the first floor is a restaurant and bar. As you walk into the Merovingian Club & Pub the first thing you will notice is our breathtaking, double sided, sandstone fireplace in the center of the room and the sign adorning the front door "Don't Drink and Teleport" .
The Pub & Restaurant has a romantically rustic atmosphere to it. It is dimly lit by it's custom made antler ring chandeliers and the roaring fire from the great fireplace. The walls are mahogany paneling decorated with paintings of Lycan hunts framed in baroque style gold frames.
To your right is the lengthy mahogany bar with it's matching high backed barstools. In front of the bar side of the fireplace is a great Lycanskin rug with a large forest green suede sofa facing the fire and matching chairs on each side. Small mahogany tables with matching chairs fill the rest of the bar area with lantern center pieces. Hanging on the wall there are the heads of enemies past, whom the Clan Capadocious has obtained. The Capadocious Clan has loaned them to the Club as the first of a series of displays.
The second floor holds a dance club. The dance floor area features oak hardwood floors, track lights with a dimmer for the right mood,. There is a vintage juke box for the elders who dance. There is also a DJ with all the new music for the young. There are crystal candle holders on all the tables in case a party wants candle light instead of electric light. The ceiling has the old stamped tin on it brass colored with a fleur de lis pattern edged with a scalloped design. Tables and quiet conversation nooks with comfortable overstuffed chairs and sofas are dotted around the edges of the room when one wants a respite from dancing. There is a small bar to quench the thirsts of the dancers.
The third floor is a stage and entertainment venue. As you walk in to the 3rd Entertainment floor and there is a podium for a hostess/host who will seat you and make sure your needs are met. As you look to the left along the wall is a large hand carved mahogany bar. As you look all the way across the room to the left there is a stage where live entertainment will take place most nights. The cream of the crop of all styles of music play here. To the right there is a DJ booth for the nights when we do not have live entertainment. There are 4 cages one in each corner of the room with humans inside who dance or are otherwise used for entertainment purposes. There are round tables and seats twenty deep surrounding the dance floor for those who prefer to sit and watch the spectacle rather than jumping into the fray.
The fourth floor is filled with torpor rooms. The long lushly carpeted hallway has doors leading off both sides reserved for both family and friends. Each room capturing the essence of a member of the family.
The first room to the right is reserved for Aunt Druscilla and the door opens on burgundy carpet with a large four post bed made to resemble the most darkly lush coffin which is outfitted with black silk sheets. A candle chandelier that hangs from the low ceiling gives off a warm glowing light. Next to the bed on either side and inset into the mahogany paneled walls are niches to hold personal items and a small lamp to read by should you wish. There is a large walk in closet and dressing room leading to a large attached bathroom outfitted with a large claw footed tub, beautiful sink basin and Victorian looking commode. The large ledge next to the wall side of the tub allows for an assortment of beautiful candles and bottles of bath oils and bubbles in finely decorated bottles.
The first room to your left is that of Gevurah the Patriarch of the Merovingian Dynasty, betrothed to Starr, the soon to be Matriarch of this bloodline, who is in the Capadocian Clan. This room can only be described as gothic luxury. A king size wrought iron four poster canopy bed, with black see through linens draped nicely around it. Wrought iron candle sconces and standing candle holders adorn the surfaces. Red velvet wallpaper mixed with natural looking stone in places for effect, bring out the ominous looking statues and gargoyles placed about the room. A built in bookshelf rests in one wall and a marble fireplace with wrought iron hardware sits in the other. There is a private balcony with a view overlooking a wooded valley with a beautiful lake down below and snow capped mountains off in the distance.
The second room on the right is that of Calisto one of the beloved daughters of Starr. Dominating the room is a 4 poster oak bed with roses and vines carved into the wood. A thick fluffy mattress, with blood red satin sheets and comforter, oak dresser and armoire and nightstands that match the bed, marble floor, gray and white with soft chenille rugs in a gorgeous shade of blood red. Through the walk in closet and dressing area is an old style claw footed bathtub and toilet and sink that match, the walls in the bath are painted gold and has a white tile floor. In one wall of the large bathroom is a raised tile area with a drain that almost looks like a shower area but with hooks set into the ceiling and wall and chains hanging from them. Next to which is an armoire that opens to show many implements of torturous fun. Whips, flails, and many other accoutrements for the vampire who never tires of playing with her food.
The second room on the left belongs to Marcella another of Starr's beloved daughters it is Asian in style with an Asian inspired sleigh bed with red velvety smooth satin sheets and black satin comforter with red roses sewn into it by hand. The walls are red velvet with black roses and red roses all over the walls and ceiling like vines. Some Asian masks hanging on vines and fans on the walls. There is a black room divider with Asian flowers near the bed to afford privacy while dressing. There are some iron holders to hold candles with special smell of erotic roses. There is an armoire with her vast wardrobe in it. As well as an Asian style dresser with her favorite accessories hanging on the top. There is a beautiful round mirror which reflects all the beautiful trinkets and the bonsai plants sitting on the dresser.
The third door on the right belongs to Mystic yet another daughter and this door opens to a plush deep-purple bedroom. Inside, the king-sized coffin is the center of attention with plush velvet covers made of royal plum. It is upon a raised pedestal with curved steps leading to it for easy access. On the right of the coffin is a wine refrigerator with a carved teak table on top. Setting on the table is a bottle of blood wine and two goblets. On the left is a wide arched window with shimmering drapes overlooking a small lake wooded behind it. Across from the coffin is the dressing station. There is a four paneled dressing screen with gothic artwork showing from the doorway. On the other side, beware. A mirrored dresser with hidden doors on the side open to the delight of the vamp owner to hang and enjoy. Black chenille throw rugs are scattered elegantly throughout the hardwood floor. The walls are lined with a sheer black tapestry that gives a feeling of mystery to the room. Protruding from conspicuous areas are wall sconces to dimly light the room. There are votive candles on the dresser to brighten up the areas as needed.
The third door to the left opens to reveal one of Starr's older daughters rooms, Morrigann 's room. Upon opening the heavily carved mahogany door the first thing you see is a massive mahogany four poster bed hung with blood red draperies held back with vines of roses. The bed is dressed in a black and red velvet raised Victorian looking fleur de lis pattern. There are dozens of beautiful throw pillows and neck rolls that decorate the bed. Under the down coverlet are black silk sheets. Next to the bed on either side are black marble topped nightstands holding elaborate silver candelabra with black and red candles set into them. Across the way you see a hand carved mahogany dressing table with lovely decanters of various oils and potions, a tray with fragrances and toiletries sits on the table. A hand painted Victorian screen stands in front of the dressing table so that one might change in privacy and the seat looks more like a throne than a dressing table bench. Beyond this is a large walk in closet leading to the large bathroom tiled entirely in black marble with a large black marble claw foot tub with a surrounding ledge holding all manner of soaps and oils and perfumes in beautiful cut crystal decanters.
A Victorian mahogany chaise lounge in the same fabric as the coverlet sits in the corner of the room a tall candelabra and small bookcase sit near it. There is also a fireplace and a set of matching wing backed chairs where you might sit and converse with a round table between them with a decanter of vintage blood wine and cut crystal glasses on a tray.
The fourth room on the right is Genevive's another of Starr's daughters. The door opens onto glistening white walls painted to look like marble. An elegant, king sized, white, 4 poster bed sits in the center of the room the posts look like roman columns. Sheer scarlet colored fabric is draped across the top of the columns. The bed is covered by a scarlet satin comforter with matching over stuffed pillows. The room is decorated with statues of the roman Gods and Godesses. Labitina, the goddess of corpses and the funeral, being the dominant figure. A huge roman tub sits in the west corner of the room. The wall closest to the tub is lines with marble shelves which are adorned with bottles of soaps and bath oils. The room is dimly lit by beeswax pillar candles in sets of three, on roman pedestals set on each side of the bed, tub, and doorway.
The fourth room on the left is that of Sarah, Starr's eldest daughter. As you walk into the room. In front of the door is white marble. The rest of the room has thick velvety soft midnight black carpet. On the center of the ceiling is a chandelier with black lights. The left wall and the back wall with a beautiful balcony is black. The ceiling is a swirl of black and white. On the immediate right is a black ebony bookcase. On the immediate left is a beautifully crafted white wardrobe. Next to the wardrobe is a door that leads to a bathroom. In the center of the room is an ebony, four poster bed with beautiful acorn finials atop stately posts laurels of leaves are carved twining around the posts and spilling onto the graceful arches of the head and footboard of the bed. The bed is dressed with black silk sheets and pillows and a comforter of black silk and goose down.
At the end of the hall is a room reserved for Starr's Parents, Mr. Brutus and Nurse Vampire. This room contains a large mahogany bed hand carved by ancient artisans and was imported from Venice. The bed linens are of the finest silk and are as dark and inky black as a moonless night. The bed is covered with painstakingly handcrafted pillows and two mahogany and black marble nightstands stand to either side of the room both of which hold a few trinkets and a cut crystal bowl filled with blood red roses. The bed is draped in dark scarlet draperies for privacy and the draperies are held back with night blooming orchid vines. The walk in closet has a dressing area and leads to another huge beautifully appointed bathroom made for two. The balcony of this room leads off of the bath so that one can bathe while listening to the sounds of the night.
Just opposite that last room is a rather large room with a black marble floor with drains hidden inconspicuously in the corners and the walls are covered in all manner of torture device both modern and ancient. The drains filter down to the basement into kegs where it is aged and distilled into the house blood wine. There are hooks hanging from the ceiling and all manner of restraints and benches to tie or chain a toy to.
The roof is a romantic rooftop retreat. A blissfully romantic setting awaits you on the rooftop of Merovingian. When you first walk out to the roof the view is spectacular. The mountains are in the distance and the white caps can be seen clearly reflecting in the pale moonlight. There is soft music playing and a little tiki bar set up in the corner near the roof entrance. Around the perimeter, there are white faery lights strung. There are large leaf plants in every corner. A small dance floor in the center of the room is surrounded by bar stools and bar tables. The bar tables have a table top tiki torch in the center of each one.
The whispers of the night can be heard and night fragrances drift across the lovers. Romance is in the air on this floor. The balconies and turrets overlook the valley below with it's beautiful forest and lake to soothe your senses and give you perfect peace and tranquility.
From the roof you can access any of the four turrets which house an award winning spa with professional massage therapists, Estheticians, and an award winning boutique with personal shoppers. There are blood baths where you can pamper your skin, a blood sauna and several hot tubs and aromatherapy baths to soothe your senses.
Submitted by Starreagle's Family of the Capadocian Clan in Honour of the Engagement of Starr & Gevurah
Establishment Name: Technoir
Proprietor: Alba Regulus
TECHNOIR: A new age in Ravenblack clubbing.
It's seven PM by the time you reach the front door, barely dark outside.
You stand in front of a building on any street in Ravenblack city, yet this one is slightly different. In huge Purple Neon Letters, above the gate-like door, it reads "Technoir" You enter, as a vampire, not knowing what you will see. You walk down a pale hallway, with huge guards eyeing you fiercely. They proceed to explain that this is a safe haven, and search you for weapons. The loud boom of the bass can be heard even from the street, it gets louder and louder as you reach a gated door at the end of the hallway. "Welcome to Technoir." a beautifull mortal woman says to you, opening the door and revealing the club and all it's glory.
It's dark, and all you can see is a huge bar, decorated with purple neon. Mortal women and men grind agianst eachother, suspended in mid air by dancing-cages. You walk across the room to the massive purple bar. The mortal bartender is a complete seductress, she eyes you carefully as you order a drink and pour it out; although she does not notice this. You turn and see the stage, where you se two things. a huge purple spotlight over a DJ, clad in a fishnet shirt and tight pants. He skillfully spins a hard-dance techno song, his obviously preternatural hands swiftly moving over the turntable. You traverse the dance floor and decide to walk into the secondary room. As you pass through the hallway, an exquisite waitress passes you buy, your thirst nearly gets the best of you. The plump, decadent veins nearly protude from her neck, taunting you. You regain your composure and come to the conclusion that Technoir houses the most beautifull mortal staff in all of Ravenblack city.
As you walk out into the second room, some unknown industrial rock band plays on stage, you notice the small dancefloor with purple light-up tiling, something a 70's disco might have. You walk onto the dance floor and entice a mortal woman, you dance with her, the room smoky and dark, barely illuminated by the stage and purple floor lights. As you grind hips with her, she shows you her VIP card and asks you to come with her. She leads you happly towards another hallway, and takes you up some stairs. She says that her ears are still ringing and she can barely see anything, but a well dressed vampire approaches you and instructs you that you're "free" to do what you want in the VIP backroom. You smile and follow the mortal up the the backround, moans and screams can be heard behind the sea of purple painted closed doors. She finds the only door (out of something like fifty) that doesen't harbor a "Do not Disturb" sign. You move in on her as the door closes, and well, Let's leave it at this: "You had a good meal." The well dressed vampire from before smiles at you and instructs someone to clean out the backrooms, as you realize it is nearly 4:30 in the morning. You swiftly move out of the near-empty club and move back towards your home, smiling at yourself. That's definatly a place you'll refer to your 'friends.'
Technoir. Dark, sensual, brutally vampiric.
Pub Name: The Tyger's Den
Proprietor: TygerNight
The main room would have to be large, with chairs and tables of ironwood, which might stand up to rowdy patrons a little better; plenty of room between these table so the barmaids can deliver drinks and food. Yes, food. A small kitchen is a must. Burgers and such, made of high quality human meat should be available at all times. Human steaks and ribs, goblets of fresh blood, whatever the hungry and thirsty pyre could want.
The basement shall hold not a bordello, but ranks of cages from which fresh meat may be selected if desired. 2 or 3 employees shall scour the city at all times for the leanest, most delicious humans to place in these cages. The back room shall be for those who wish to dance; a parquee dance floor with a live band, and small tables for couples will line the walls, so they may drink and eat between dancing. Soft, muted lighting in this room is a must for those who like to dance 'close'.
The main room will have a large flatscreen tv on the wall, to keep interested pyres abreast of the news of the city, as will there be a small selection of newspapers for perusing whilst eating. Bouncers are a must; no one wants to have their dinner thrown across the room by a drunk and angry pyre. For these patrons, another small room shall be set off of the main one, with a fine selection of weapons for releasing their animosity toward one another. Bets may be placed on the victor.
Upstairs shall be the inn portion, with large, well-appointed rooms for long stays, and a number of small, sparse rooms for those 'quickies' many pyres enjoy. There shall be a third floor for my wife and myself, as a sort of third home, with a large bedroom, livingroom, and 2 smaller bedrooms, in addition to a private bath. Speaking of which, there shall be well-appointed restrooms, each with small enclosed showers for those pyres coming in from a night of killing hunters, or emerging from the fight room bloodied. A clean pyre is a happy pyre.
Name of Pub: Wicked Dreams
Proprietor: ShadowFire
Come, step into a world of imagination, a filled with magic, a world where not everything is what it seems. Come… to Wicked Dreams.
A flowering garden filled with Renaissance-like statues approaches your vision as you step through the gates. It is a garden filled with exotic plants, and its own waterfall stemming out into a pool. As you move towards the door of the rather chic building you cannot help but notice a pair of bright purple flames, contained as though by magic, that seem to hover near each side of the door, flames invisible to the mortal eye. Above the door are similar flames spelling the worlds Wicked Dreams…
The scent of nature invades your senses as you step this exotic wonderland. An elegant, spacious room fills your vision, welcoming you to the main room. The room seems inconspicuous but for the light aquamarine walls which seem to glow and the plethora of exotic plants growing from them. The barman, a rather handsome fire-breather, stands behind a mahogany black marble-topped counter, ready to both serve every form of drink imaginable and toss out any troublemakers. Fine wooden tables covered by a white table-cloth are scattered about the room, tables that change shape and form depending on whom sits there. A team of gorgeous shape-shifters stand ready to serve as waiters, waitresses, and even to fill in as dancers, and behind the scenes gourmet chiefs are ready to prepare delicious entrees.
A live band can be seen on the stage, playing otherworldly melodies meant to stimulate the imagination, but be wary for you may find yourself mesmerized. Beyond there is the dance room, here dazzling multi-colored spheres whiz through the air to shed light on the dance floor as the rhythmic sounds of lively music fills the room. Finally, as though this were not enough, there lies yet another room, different from all the others. A room that seems to change at its own will, instantly taking whomever happens to walk into it the world of their dreams or their nightmares, a room for the adventurous.
Come to Wicked Dreams, where your dreams become reality…just don’t fall too deeply into the spell of your own desires or you may find yourself lost.
Pub Name: The Hanging Gardens
Proprietor: Lucius
Don't awaken the dead as you sleepwalk around.
If you have a dream, brother, hush, not a sound.
Just stand there and rust, die if you must,
And play the game.
-Richard Thompson, "Can't Win"
The Hanging Gardens has shrunk to insignificance on the RavenBlack City skyline. A mere 24 stories tall, it is dwarfed by such colossi as Caesar's, the Golden Nugget, and Trump's Taj Mahal. Gray and solid, it would seem more an office building than a casino were it not for its two extensions: the amusement pier, and the gardens from which it derives its name. The pier, complete with carnival rides and games, extends gaudily into the sea at the Northern city limits, but its bright lights and brighter colours are at odds with the notoriety it attracts.
Several times, some unlucky soul has threaded his or her way past the cotton-candy booths and the tilt-a-whirl rides to the low wall at the end of the pier, clambered up its seagull-scarred surface, and plunged into the waters below. Though the Parks Commission estimates the depth of the water to be no more than 15 feet, none of the suicides' bodies has ever been recovered, or even seen once the leap has been made. Those with a scientific bent mumble of sharks or strange currents caused by the pier's unusual structure; others have darker theories.
The gardens are what give the hotel its name and its identity, however, and they are truly magnificent. Set off in a massive greenhouse attached to the main building by an elevated walkway, the gardens house exotic flora from around the world. The motif is what some crazed designer imagined Babylonian might have been, and so frescoes of lhmu and other ancient Mesopotamian images decorate the vine-covered walls. Lengthy flowerbeds hang suspended from the ceiling by steel cables mocked up to look like twining vines; from these spill profusions of flowers. Squads of gardeners work around the clock to ensure that flowers are constantly in bloom, and one section of the greenhouse roof actually retracts, allowing the gardens to be opened to the air during days of good weather. Winding paths wend their way through the lush greenery, and often one can take no more than a dozen steps before being completely isolated amid silent walls of verdure. The plants themselves are as bizarre as money and import laws will allow; it is not uncommon to encounter a giant blossom that stinks of rotting meat side by side with delicately sparkling sundews and peonies nodding under the weights of their own blooms. How the gardeners coax the disparate species to coexist is a mystery, but the effect is spectacular. There is a negative aspect to this lush growth, though; any patron caught damaging a plant is immediately expelled from the premises.
No doubt this draconian policy has cost the casino a great deal of business over the years, but it remains firm.
To the Undead population, however, the gardens are not so inviting. One might expect them to be sere and withered, but rather they are vibrant with a growth that can only be described as cancerous. The vines have conquered all; they have pulled down the flowerbeds and choked off the paths, turned the walkway into a living tunnel and strangled the sides of the tower. Even inside the building itself, the threadbare luxuries are shot through with probing, searching tendrils of green.
There is literally nowhere in the Hanging Gardens where the gardens themselves do not reach, and while there is a sort of life in these pulsing cables, it is a feverish, desperate life.
The gambling floor itself is kept relatively free of this unwholesome plant life, and here, perhaps, is the truer marvel of this place. It is the sanctum sanctorum of Chance's worshippers, and thus it manages to be simultaneously crass and reverential.
Rows upon rows of relic slot machines, each beloved of and cursed by thousands of humans in its time, stand ready to swallow the coins of those vampires who either feel lucky or who simply cannot control their addictions. As each of these machines has been invested with sorcery, a rare jackpot can be tallied in emotional fodder as well as in brightly ringing coins.
There are card tables as well, manned by Heretic dealers faithfully working dog-eared decks discarded by their living counterparts. A beautifully conditioned Wurlitzer jukebox sits in one comer; when sated with coins it plays loudly enough to drown out the moans from within its belly. More ghouls serve as cashiers, ready to reward Chance's favourites with glistening stacks of coins.
Generally, though, Chance favours the house. Very rarely is it intimated by some unlucky loser that the house has in fact stacked the odds in its favour. This accusation is regarded as pure blasphemy by the true believers of the Hanging Gardens, and if one repeats the comment one is likely to find oneself melted into coin and condemned to the belly of a one-armed bandit.
Where the hotel's management erects stages in the parking lot for the rare boxing match or concert in the realm of the Living, the Undead find the Blood Pits. Little more than gouges in the sand, these chambers are arenas where vampires battle for a variety of reasons, including hatred, profit, and entertainment. Combats in the Pits are huge spectator draws, and those watching a match often throw in coins, weapons, or even each other. Each Pit is overseen by an acolyte of Chance whose functions are to officiate over the match and to take bets on the action. Cheating would be smiled upon here, except that there are no rules to break. After all, any advantage a Combatant might gamer is nothing more than a Product of Chance. The fact that Chance sometimes disguises itself as a knife tossed into the Pit by an overzealous spectator is of little concern, at least to the acolyte.
Above the gambling floor are the chambers that correspond to the rooms of the hotel. Certain of these are occupied by resident vampires. Most of the chambers, though, are generally empty, used for the occasional tryst or blood rituals and orgies, but generally left to the ever-patient vines.
The amusement pier, on the other hand, appears as a desolate stretch of twisted steel and rusty powder. To the Undead, the tilt-a-whirl is already nothing more than a pile of rusting beams and mouldering wooden shells, and the mortal who rides it is no more than a mourner at a particularly perverse wake.
At the end of this wasteland surge the dirty grey waters of the sea, occasionally slopping over onto the surface of the pier. A whirlpool bubbles and throbs just offshore.
Humans still come to the Hanging Gardens, of course, but not the big spenders or high rollers that a casino must cultivate as carefully as a gardener tends roses. Rather, the elderly come here, and the desperate - those who have little to lose and focus themselves on the slim chance of gain. Few families come to the Hanging Gardens, and only those honeymooning couples unable to afford the more expensive accommodations offered elsewhere on the Boardwalk. The traffic is steady rather than bustling, and only by keeping the gambling floor open around the clock can the casino remain afloat.
On the whole, a Hanging Gardens patron is far more concerned with how he is going to spend the big score that he knows, knows is waiting for him at the next pull of the lever than with how he is going to pay for his room once he has emptied his pockets. The optimism here is forced and fevered, because few of the Living who walk into the Gardens can afford the luxury of entertaining the possibility of failure. The emotional atmosphere is thick and charged, and hope and despair scud through the halls like cigarette smoke. The Hanging Gardens is no place for reserve, after all, and this holds true whether one is speaking of emotional reserve or financia