Viva Bedazzled Las Vegas

[7twistedwishes]

It is actually a two-step trip: using the door from Milliways lands the couple at Scarlet's place in San Fancisco, but in the same fraction of a second, she wills herself and Weyland to be somewhere else.

Comments

[7twistedwishes]

"I did not bother checking, just made him tear off his clothing, climb on the table and start his act." She giggles, leaning to him. "I can check if you want to know..."

Ah, the bar. Scarlet orders the fabled vodka with gold flecks.

[mechanicalswans]

Weyland orders the same.

"No, that's quite all right," he says, leaning in to kiss her cheek. "I do hope you won't be doing anything like that to me--well, in that manner. You're free to charm me into doing whatever you like."

[7twistedwishes]

The kiss is accepted with a delighted smile, and returned to his chin. "Oh, dear... I would never do something like that to you. Unless.... nah."

The Devil shakes herself, the snug t-shirt becoming a more dressy blouse. Surprisingly enough, nobody around seems to notice. "Can you feel it? The Greed, The Lust, and all the other delicious sins in the air?"

[mechanicalswans]

"I feel..."

He glances around, slipping into more of a blending-in, observational frame of mind.

"Desperation. A bit of hope, but it's fading. Financial desperation, but also desperation for human contact--for feeling alive."

[7twistedwishes]

"Zombies yearning for life, tin men and straw women wanting hearts and brains. They think here, among the lights, they will find what they are missing. They think the next drink, the next tumble on the bed, the next deal of cards or roll of dice, the next stranger..."

"Something, anything..."

"Will change their lives around, and fill their hollow souls. Oh, of course, there is a trickle of people who are satisfied with themselves and come here for just the fun, but they are a stark minority."

[mechanicalswans]

"Exactly."

He leans against the bar, and lights a cigarette.

"But you know... it never works. I've tried it so many times, and at best, all it gives is a brief distraction. Never a real change."

[7twistedwishes]

"When I come here, I look for those ready to wake up from the daze." After he takes the first drag, she takes the cigarette from him, inhales deeply and offers it back. "Some go from dazed into nihilism. Kill themselves, kill others."

"Some renounce all this insane game. I have lost a few to real enlightened faith, won some others by fanaticism."

Then she grins, ordering refills for their drinks. "But most of the time, I just enjoy myself here."

[mechanicalswans]

He takes the cigarette back, and has a sip of his drink.

"Sometimes I use people," he admits, "just use them for my whims, and then abandon them. Sometimes I see a trace of something better, in them--and I may try to bring it out. I don't always succeed. I'd rather see nothing there at all than see something and fail to bring it out."

[7twistedwishes]

"I learned to enjoy the attempt, the shaping and change. If nothing seem to be coming out, I put something more in." The Devil leans to her lover, smiling. "I learned to enjoy myself. Always."

[mechanicalswans]

"I wish I could do that," he murmurs. "But I feel the need to build--to strengthen. And if I can't, I just destroy, so they can start over, maybe do better next time."

[7twistedwishes]

"Souls are my business, dear..." She kisses his cheek, smiling. "Maybe I can help you find what you look for, I have been watching minds and souls for eight thousand years. And messing with them too."

She glances towards the entrance and smiles. "But right now, it seems like our penthouse is ready." Indeed, the clerk is walking over to them.

[mechanicalswans]

"Mmm."

He is grateful for the distraction; it wasn't a comfortable line of thought, and he is trying to be different this time, trying to have a good time.

So he gives the clerk a polite smile.

[7twistedwishes]

The clerk smiles back, offering a little bow, inviting them to follow.

The couple will be taken all the way up to their penthouse.