Post by Riley Sorsa on Nov 10, 2020 10:24:21 GMT -8
The neon lights bathed the human flood that was the Vegas strip. The cooling Nevada night was teaming with the sounds of cars, distant music, and the hum of human conversation.
Riley had the night off, or more he had decided tonight to take a break. He had hoped to spend the evening at home in the apartment, a cup of tea, and maybe a graphic novel, or, hell, a record. But the neon lights of the strip called him away. His eyes wandered the sea of people taking in their faces, voices and the taste of the emotions that turned the strip into an intoxicating Smorgasbord. Simultaneously delicious and foul.
The moth found a seat at a small sidewalk table at Wahlburgers, across from the Bellagio Casino. A small plate of fries and a sparkling lemonade, Riley sat observing the fountains, or more those who came to see the fountains, across the road. The fountains were a favorite spot for the Darkling; not for their own sake, their performance had dulled over the years. It was the allure of the glamour here that simmered in the sea of watchers. It tingled on the tips of his fingers and caused an electrifying pulsing along his antennae. Riley liked that the fountain was a tease of glamour not as full blown as the desires found elsewhere on the strip, but the potential, the anticipation among the crowd. People on dates, or proposing marriages. Young folks intoxicated by an evening of adventure and thrills, children struck dumb by the fountain and the lights.
“Hey, Miss, you know where The Light is?” Came the voice of a young man.
The entrancing spell cracked and Riley turned his attention away from the fountain to the two people that stood with arms linked at the elbows on the sidewalk. A young couple, dressed for a night of dancing, dashing, bright and beautiful. His eyes met each of theirs in turn, a silent connection.
“You're close, it’s right-” Riley paused and smiled, reaching for a napkin he whipped the salt from the fries free from his fingers.
“I was actually heading that way, I’ll just show you” He said rising from his seat. Adjusting his collar and sleeves before taking a stride down the strip, pausing to glance over his shoulder at the couple. “Well? You coming or not?”
Live music, the pounding of the base, fluorescent cocktails, and the rhythmic gyration of the dance floor. A sea of beautiful, sweaty humans, swirling around each other in an addictive sea of emotions and desire. The clubs of Vegas were perfect for creating the glamour of choice for the moth. There would be some who found it overwhelming, a rush too fast and too strong to handle or control. But for Riley it was like riding a wave. It was freeing, exhilarating and it took skill. Riley was good at it.
These were not places for words, the music too loud, the lights too dark or too bright. The language of the club was in the body, in a smile, an offer of a drink, or the touch of a hand, or the connection between met gazes. It was a game the moth played, fluttering between the couple in the club, coming close, and moving far. Entice, excite, enchant.
It did not take long before the three were outside. Entwined in a heated display of kisses, wandering hands and heavy breaths. Just beyond the neon lights tucked in a back alley. The smell of the rotten garbage, or the lingering stains of vomit, would put most off. But the use of adrenaline, endorphins and heated desire of this unplanned rendezvous blinded them from the filth of the city, and left only the glamour. Riley’s head tilted back as the flood of raw emotions rushed through him, it drummed in the base of his skull and flowed downward, illuminating him from within. Drugs couldn't match the overwhelming sensation. The moth broke from a kiss from the young woman, his hand ran through the man's ruffled hair, before Riley tilted his head back and looked up. Past the looming walls of brick, beyond the neon glows, to the black night above.
Riley had the night off, or more he had decided tonight to take a break. He had hoped to spend the evening at home in the apartment, a cup of tea, and maybe a graphic novel, or, hell, a record. But the neon lights of the strip called him away. His eyes wandered the sea of people taking in their faces, voices and the taste of the emotions that turned the strip into an intoxicating Smorgasbord. Simultaneously delicious and foul.
The moth found a seat at a small sidewalk table at Wahlburgers, across from the Bellagio Casino. A small plate of fries and a sparkling lemonade, Riley sat observing the fountains, or more those who came to see the fountains, across the road. The fountains were a favorite spot for the Darkling; not for their own sake, their performance had dulled over the years. It was the allure of the glamour here that simmered in the sea of watchers. It tingled on the tips of his fingers and caused an electrifying pulsing along his antennae. Riley liked that the fountain was a tease of glamour not as full blown as the desires found elsewhere on the strip, but the potential, the anticipation among the crowd. People on dates, or proposing marriages. Young folks intoxicated by an evening of adventure and thrills, children struck dumb by the fountain and the lights.
“Hey, Miss, you know where The Light is?” Came the voice of a young man.
The entrancing spell cracked and Riley turned his attention away from the fountain to the two people that stood with arms linked at the elbows on the sidewalk. A young couple, dressed for a night of dancing, dashing, bright and beautiful. His eyes met each of theirs in turn, a silent connection.
“You're close, it’s right-” Riley paused and smiled, reaching for a napkin he whipped the salt from the fries free from his fingers.
“I was actually heading that way, I’ll just show you” He said rising from his seat. Adjusting his collar and sleeves before taking a stride down the strip, pausing to glance over his shoulder at the couple. “Well? You coming or not?”
Live music, the pounding of the base, fluorescent cocktails, and the rhythmic gyration of the dance floor. A sea of beautiful, sweaty humans, swirling around each other in an addictive sea of emotions and desire. The clubs of Vegas were perfect for creating the glamour of choice for the moth. There would be some who found it overwhelming, a rush too fast and too strong to handle or control. But for Riley it was like riding a wave. It was freeing, exhilarating and it took skill. Riley was good at it.
These were not places for words, the music too loud, the lights too dark or too bright. The language of the club was in the body, in a smile, an offer of a drink, or the touch of a hand, or the connection between met gazes. It was a game the moth played, fluttering between the couple in the club, coming close, and moving far. Entice, excite, enchant.
It did not take long before the three were outside. Entwined in a heated display of kisses, wandering hands and heavy breaths. Just beyond the neon lights tucked in a back alley. The smell of the rotten garbage, or the lingering stains of vomit, would put most off. But the use of adrenaline, endorphins and heated desire of this unplanned rendezvous blinded them from the filth of the city, and left only the glamour. Riley’s head tilted back as the flood of raw emotions rushed through him, it drummed in the base of his skull and flowed downward, illuminating him from within. Drugs couldn't match the overwhelming sensation. The moth broke from a kiss from the young woman, his hand ran through the man's ruffled hair, before Riley tilted his head back and looked up. Past the looming walls of brick, beyond the neon glows, to the black night above.