milliways_bar OOM: Vegas, baby.

[bloodyrockgod]

Las Vegas.

At certain times of day the Strip appears nearly deserted; at others, cars move a crawl and the sidewalks are packed with people looking for an endless variety of a good time.

It's never cold in Las Vegas--it's just varying degrees of hot. The grand hotels cast shadows and there are fountains up and down the Strip, though few are intended to cool off the tourists as much as amuse them. There are few places to just sit and watch the city go past: the intention is to bring you inside, to gamble and shop and take in a show or two.

It's a strange city, of long nights and slow days, and there's a nervy sort of energy brought by vast amounts of money changing hands, of celebrities getting away for a wild night, of lives changing with a roll of the dice.

It's a perfect city, though, for a pair of dreamers to celebrate each other. Whether they take the High Octane option of Charlie's plans or the Lazy Day option, it's good just to be here, together.

Comments

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

He runs his nose against the line of Charlie's jaw near the ear and kisses just below.

"You're amazing."

[bloodyrockgod]

"I'm lucky," Charlie murmurs and looks up at him. "I've got you, and we've got this . . ." He has more to say, but can't for a moment.

He smiles and watches the water again.

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

A kiss.

And then he's looking straight at Charlie.

"Can we go make ridiculous amounts of money?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Yes," Charlie says indulgently, and leads them across the front drive to the lobbey.

"Check in first or stick it to the man first?"

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

He seems to be alone. Is that an answer?"

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie shakes his head a little and takes out some of the cash Jack loaned him, and heads for a roulette table.

At least he's not the worst-dressed person there, though the croupier gives him a skeptical look when he asks for hundred-dollar chips.

"Just playing the game," he murmurs, hoping Darien is nearby.

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

"Right here, baby. Can't go wrong."

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie nods shortly as if thinking to himself, and places a few chips on 20. He bites his nails as the wheel spins.

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

The man at the wheel gives him an eyebrow before setting it to spin, watching as the ball skitters and spins. It looks as if it might end up in the 45...before popping over into the 20 slot as it stops.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie whoops and claps his hands, laughing, and then remembers where he is and puts on his most dignifed smile. "Excellent," he says, beaming. "Let it ride."

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

A few more spins and Charlie wins.

And wins.

And wins.

And there's a soft chuckle in Charlie's ear.

[bloodyrockgod]

"I think it's time I move on, eh?" Charlie says to the croupier, and tips him a red chip. He gathers up his pile and stuffs them into his pockets.

"Well?" he mutters as he walks away. "More?"

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

"Can't do much more without going nutbar. You, uh, mentioned a waterslide?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Yeah, we'll need a taxi unless you want to just swim here. C'mere." He leads Darien into the nearest men's room so he can un-Quicksilver.

"We can check in and buy suits," he says as he waits. "And I can pay Jack back a lot sooner than planned. Blimey."

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

He grins, unquicksilvers...and then realizes that they're in a bathroom.




Charlie is rather quickly pulled into the stall with him for a good long kiss.

[bloodyrockgod]

"Oi," Charlie protests, laughing, and wraps his arms around Darien's neck. "Or we can just check in and spend the afternoon testing the bed."

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

"Don't tempt me. Especially since I haven't been on a water slide for ages."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Then we need to buy swimsuits, which means I need to change the chips, which means we have to leave the loo. Talk about tempting."

He's beaming like somebody who just got thoroughly kissed when they leave, and can't keep that expression off his face as he changes his chips for a cashier's check.

Check-in is easy: the reservation was under the name Jack Green, which somehow made the clerks treat them like royalty--Jack had said, shrugging, that things always worked out for him and apparently the same was true for his friends--and once they were in the elevator Charlie pulled Darien back to him for more kisses.

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

He smiles into the kisses and wraps his arms around Charlie, dragging him out as soon as the doors open.

"Can we try out the bed quick?"

[bloodyrockgod]

"Yes," Charlie says, tugging him along to their hotel room door. It takes a few tries to get the keycard to work, and then they stumble into the room--which is creamy and rich and sumptuous, and the bed is, of course, large and cushy.

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

Clothing flies, bed creaks, and neighbors are jealous.

And then there's curling around Charlie and smiling.

[bloodyrockgod]

Charlie strokes Darien's arm and mutters, "I need a cigarette."

He plays with Darien's hair. "We don't have to go out, you know."

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

He gets a poke to the belly.

"No cigarettes."

[bloodyrockgod]

"Yes, dear." He kisses Darien's forehead. "Though a smoke is nice after good sex."

[qsilver-lab-rat.livejournal.com]

Sideways look.

"Yes... because lovely, life-affirming sex should immediately be followed with a blackening of the lungs and a shortening of the life span."