Joshua Graham's Trip to the City of Sin

Part 5: Striptease

Shining lights danced on either side of The Strip, shimmering as night fell. Music blared out from speakers, playing many classic Old World songs. Joshua couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder as he gazed upon the inherent beauty of the casinos. The wide range of bright, glowing colours were blinding but so captivating at the same time. Carrie saw Joshua's wide eyes and giggled.

"Beautiful right? Told ya, Joshie boy. Betcha wish you came here sooner, hmm?"

The Strip had two buildings on either side: On the left, a massive tower. The Lucky 38, HQ of New Vegas. On the right, Gomorrah, a seedy casino run by the reformed Omertas. Outside of Gomorrah were dancers in revealing clothing, the only thing stopping them from being arrested was some black tape. Joshua looked in shame and disgust.

"Of course, the name is fitting for a place of sin." He thought.

"No, I do not. Those men and women are wasting their life, being used for your body is no way to live."

He sighs and quickly composes himself.

"But it is not my place to judge. Only God is allowed to serve judgement on those. I am only a messenger of that."

"Haha, Jesus Joshie! Calm down. Let loose a little, huh? Enjoy the sights, enjoy the gambling! And besides, maybe you could get... lucky."

She wiggled her eyebrows at Joshua suggestively, implying very heinous and sinful activities that are not in line with God's teachings.

Joshua paid the last two parts no mind but the first part seemed to resonate with him. "Let loose a little...." he thought, "Surely if I just... relax, I can...enjoy this evening."

"So...what ya saying, huh?" She offers her hand. "You wanna have some fun?"

Graham looks at her hand and thinks for a while, outweighing the positives and negatives of such an offer. Eventually, he decides to take it, making Carrie smile and slightly blush.

"Knew you'd say yeah! Come on Joshie boy! Time for some damn fun!"

She runs off and drags Joshua with her, rushing him into The Tops. What followed was a series of events some would describe as chaotic; Joshua remembered only a blur but managed to keep himself true to God...barely.

Eventually, a drunken Carrie was stumbling back to the Lucky 38 with the help of Joshua who was completely sober. She collapsed in the elevator to the Presidential Suite and seemed to keep drifting in and out of sleep until they finally arrived and Joshua managed to get her into bed. Before he could leave, however, Carrie grabbed him by the arm and pulled herself up and slurred out,

"Joshiiiiie...stay wi-with me....I wanna.....wanna....cuddleee.",

Graham ignored her plea and tried to leave but she managed to pull him into her.

"Come ooooon....pleeeeeease? Just wanna....touch you alllll oveeer...you sexy *hic*...boy."

Carrie comes onto him and starts touching his cheek and trying to touch his crotch.

"Carrie...no." He says as he blocks her hands.

"Why nooot? I....I like you a lot..."

She manages to pick herself up and stand shakily, starting to undress herself right down to her underwear.

"Joshie....boy....I know ya can't resist meeeee. Seen the way you look at me.....God, I just wanna.....just wanna....ugh...."

She collapses once again onto her bed and immediately falls asleep. Joshua, somewhat shaken by her advances, tucks her in and leaves, quietly closing the door behind him and then getting into a bed of his own.

He thinks for a while at what she said...what she did...hopefully she wouldn't remember enough in the morning to say anything about it.

Joshua closed his eyes and fell asleep.

"What now?"

He wondered.