Cloud awoke the next morning to the bright sunlight hitting the back of his eyelids. He begrudgingly flicked his eyes open, and he could feel the exhaustion throughout his body, reminding him of how little sleep he had gotten the night before. In the corner of the room, Aerith perched on one of the hotel's ornate chairs, her nightgown flowing beneath her. She gazed longingly out of the window. Cloud took the moment to look just a tad longer while he tried to gather his thoughts for the day. She was still just as beautiful as the night before, and he found it unbelievable they were sharing the same room.
Upon hearing Cloud stir, Aerith turned to his direction. "Oh, you're up." She gave a sheepish grin and turned back towards the window. "I've just been here watching the city wake up. The fountains aren't even on yet, but it's still magical. I don't know if I've ever seen a more beautiful sunrise."
With her back turned, Cloud contemplated staring a bit longer, but he thought better of it and grabbed his phone instead. Turning the screen on, he found a few messages from Biggs and Wedge.
"Looks like the guys are up," Cloud said, reading a few of them to himself.
Aerith turned to him and sighed. "Yeah, I guess we should get ready too."
Cloud put his phone down and their eyes met for a brief moment, before she turned back to the window once more. She looked so content to just spend the whole day in her nightgown, staring through the window with a sense of calm. Cloud wouldn't have minded staying in, either.
He imagined himself going over to the window and standing behind her. He would wrap his arms around her shoulders while she continued her focus outward. He would bury his face in her neck, taking in her intoxicating aroma. Her gaze would be broken momentarily and she'd drop a kiss on his arm wrapped around her. Their warm bodies would grow even closer than before as they reveled in the early morning magic of the city.
But Cloud knew he couldn't, not yet, anyway. He would first have to learn how to say more than a few words to her at a time before anything else. With a momentary pause, he shook his head, breaking himself out of his trance, and reluctantly started on getting ready for the day instead.
Once everyone was ready to go, the group headed out to breakfast to begin their day. Biggs had chosen a quick-service place near the hotel called EggSlums. Although the name was questionable, and the wait was long, the food was exceptionally tasty. Cloud savored the last of his egg sandwich, and he admired how incredibly soft and fluffy the eggs were inside.
The group spent the hours after breakfast wandering up and down the Las Vegas Strip and taking in all the city had to offer. Aerith enjoyed being able to see the fountains from the ground level, complete with the obligatory crowds of people. Cloud suspected she still preferred the secluded view from the window with a private soundtrack just a little bit more.
The group meandered in and out of the casinos enjoying all the different themes and flavors each one had to offer, depending on their clientele. One casino attracted guests with glamorous gondola rides, another had a makeshift volcano that would erupt in the evening hours. As they wandered, they stopped occasionally at whatever slot machine that grabbed their eye. Each machine had its own set of rules and bonus rounds, and the group enjoyed making an attempt to learn the games, especially Aerith.
Cloud was surprised to see her feel daring enough to put a five dollar bill of her own money into a machine and finally try playing. She giggled in delight while the reels danced and her credit meter kept increasing. After a few spins, she paused, taking note of the amount she had won.
"Wow! I've turned my five dollars into ten dollars. This is probably a good place to stop before I get carried away."
She pressed the button to cash out on the machine, and it spit out a white ticket voucher for her to exchange for cash at the casino cage. The rest of the group took a moment to stop from their play to give Aerith a congratulatory cheer. Cloud was impressed at Aerith's self control, and even he had to admit it was probably a better strategy to stop early, even if it wasn't as glamorous.
In addition to slots, the group made their way over to some of the low-limit table games. Cloud and his friends found an unoccupied Blackjack table and took a seat. The bright green felt stretched completely over the table and invited the guys to play.
Biggs happily settled into his seat. "It's time for our Blackjack lesson with the best teacher around." Cloud gave a nervous chuckle, hoping he could do his casino game aficionado reputation justice.
Aerith stood behind and observed, leaving one of the black shiny seats unoccupied. Cloud had to admit he was a little relieved; he wasn't sure that he could handle explaining the rules of the game properly without freezing up if she was actually playing. Regardless of being just a spectator, she appeared to listen attentively while Cloud explained how to play. He took a mental note of how it was the first time of the trip he got to do more of the talking without feeling too awkward.
"Two Jacks," Wedge said, examining the card he had just been dealt. His face twisted in a confused expression and turned to Cloud for his advice. "Should I split them?"
"Definitely not," Cloud responded with a shake of his head. "Not unless you want the table to get upset at you. You definitely just want to stay, instead."
Wedge nodded and gave the dealer the hand motion signaling he wanted to stay and not receive any more cards. "I'm glad you're here, Cloud. Saving me from some potential table embarrassment."
The group spent a few more minutes playing cards, listening to Cloud's words of wisdom. As the game progressed, the guys slowly felt more confident to make their own choices without consulting him first. After a few more hands, and the group mostly breaking even, they decided to end their play to explore more of the city.
They continued visiting an assortment of casinos, a lot of which were starting to blur together. However, when they arrived at the Wynn, Cloud knew immediately this property would stand out the most for Aerith today. This hotel was also ornate and lavish like the Bellagio, and he could feel the enthusiasm in her voice the moment they stepped inside. It did not have a giant indoor garden like the Bellagio, but instead it had flowers spread out throughout the property, weaving their way into the décor. Cloud had actually been to the Wynn before on a prior trip, but had never even noticed all the flowers until Aerith pointed them out. That seemed to be a common theme for Cloud of picking up new details through her eyes.
She was especially delighted when she came across a Wynn employee whose sole job was being a dedicated gardener for the property. She chatted with him about all the different floral varieties and extensive maintenance that was required. They recounted flower tales and Aerith's eyes lit up every time the gardener mentioned a new species. Cloud didn't really understand much of it, but he still enjoyed listening in and hearing her speak. He certainly wasn't sick of her yet.
The group spent a while wandering through the Wynn, but soon their stomachs rumbled, and it was time to grab a spot for a late lunch. They opted for the buffet, since they had heard it was one of the best in Vegas, and would free everyone up from having to decide on a particular cuisine. Aerith was especially interested, not so much for the quantity of food, but because of the sprawling flower displays inside.
There was a small wait, but once they were inside, everyone was amazed at all the different food options and stations. There was a taco station, fresh crab legs, and a section dedicated to pretty much every type of meat Cloud could think of—just to name a few. The group piled their plates high with an assortment of options, and then made their way back to the table, discussing their plans for the evening.
"I can't believe how much we saw today," Aerith said, momentarily putting down her fork. "I feel like we saw the whole city."
Wedge laughed. "My feet feel like they saw the whole country. I definitely made my step goal today, and for the next few days more. Maybe we should have taken the car out."
Biggs gave him a pat on the back. "Hey man, we gotta work off all this good food we're eating somehow."
"So," Aerith continued, "What are the plans for after lunch?"
Wedge piped up. "I was doing some more research, and there's a hypnotist show tonight. Calls himself Andrea Rhodea."
Aerith gave a puzzled look. "A hypnotist? And a stage show?"
Wedge continued. "Yeah, so, they pick people from the audience and hypnotize them on stage. Make them do all sorts of silly stuff. It's supposed to be a riot."
Cloud sure wished he could get hypnotized to find a way to talk to Aerith and not seize up in her presence. But somehow, he knew that wouldn't quite make for an entertaining show.
"I don't know," Biggs said. "I think those things are just a big hoax."
Cloud tended to side with Biggs. If he looked at it from a scientific perspective, true hypnosis would be very hard to pull off, especially in a group setting. But Biggs had a way of putting it more eloquently, and so Cloud resumed eating his food without feeling the need to add anything else.
"It could be fun, even if it's all fake," Wedge pointed out.
"True," Biggs agreed. "And it would be something different than last night's very serious acrobatic acts. What about you, Cloud?"
The group turned to face him in anticipation of his response. Cloud put down his sandwich and studied their faces. He didn't have a strong opinion, but he favored whatever would get him to spend more time with Aerith. "Sounds good," he said, and he took another bite of his sandwich.
Aerith clapped her hands together and cheered. "So, it's settled!"
Cloud nodded at the decision and took a sip of the mixed drink he had ordered. He normally wasn't one for alcohol, but he had purchased a rum and Coke, hoping it would loosen him up a little. He needed to do something about his nerves, and it was obvious willpower alone wasn't going to work. Besides, what better city to have a few drinks in than Sin City, right?
The group headed back to their respective rooms to get ready for the evening. Before long, it was almost show time, and everyone headed out toward the theater. The theater was further away than the last one, and to no one's objections, the group decided to take their car this time, despite knowing there would be another parking fee to pay. Their feet thanked them.
Soon, they arrived at the theater and grabbed drinks and snacks for the evening at the lobby bar before the show started. They made their way to their seats, and once again Biggs and Wedge had carved a path so Cloud was guaranteed to sit next to Aerith.
Aerith slowly sat down in her seat, making sure her drink didn't spill. "Wow—two shows in two days. I could get used to this." The group took a moment to take in the details of this new theater; instead of posh velvety seats like the previous night, this venue opted for simple black leather chairs and a much smaller stage.
Wedge gave Aerith a thumbs up with his drink in hand too. "It's not quite as luxurious as aquatic acrobatics, but I'm still excited."
They all took their seats, and Cloud's eyes darted once more to Aerith's hands, just as they had the previous night. He imagined intertwining his fingers with hers and they would laugh at the antics of the night, shooting suggestive smiles at one another in between the show's beats.
Cloud snapped out of it and took another sip of his new mixed drink. This time he had opted for the house specialty, a hard and bitter drink the bartender called Cosmo Canyon. He was initially skeptical, but surprisingly quite enjoyed the balance of juices and liquor. He would have to make a mental note to tell Tifa, since he knew she loved trying new concoctions.
The group chatted a little more, but soon the lights dimmed and the show began to start. After a few moments of a grand musical introduction, a tall figure emerged onto the center of the stage, dressed in black with gold accents lining his outfit. He walked with grand and flamboyant moves and had a great deal of confidence commanding the stage.
"Good evening," the man began. "My name is Andrea Rhodea and I will be your hypnotist for the evening. I know some of you may be skeptics, but my goal is to turn all of you into believers tonight. I only ask that you open your mind and allow me to prove to you what the mind is capable of achieving."
Cloud knew he counted himself in that skeptic category, at least partially. The crowd cheered and hollered and the epic music carried on. Cloud wasn't sure if he could be hypnotized, even if he wanted to. And he worried what deep dark secrets he would accidentally blurt out, especially with his crush within earshot. Almost as if reading his mind, Andrea continued.
"In a moment I will ask for some volunteers, but I know some of you may have questions. There are those of you who are hesitant—unsure—and I want to put your mind at ease. First, being hypnotized is just like going to sleep. If you can close your eyes and follow my voice, you can be put under hypnosis. If you work with me, I can work with you."
Well, Cloud could do that part, at least. Honestly, being put to sleep right now didn't sound half bad, especially since the lack of sleep from the night before was starting to catch up to him, especially in this dark theater.
More epic music played from the speakers, the crowd continued to cheer, and Andrea's speech resumed. "Second, many folks are worried they will divulge information or spill their darkest secrets when they are up here. Rest assured that is not the case. You are in full control of what you say. But I will show you what amazing things you are capable of, and you will have the courage to do things you've never thought possible."
Cloud was taken aback. Was Andrea reading his mind? Guess Cloud wasn't the only one who had these worries, if they were common enough for Andrea to address in his opening monologue. Cloud had to admit that Andrea was quite the salesman. So much so that Cloud was strangely considering the idea, especially at the mention of the word 'courage', which he so desperately needed right now. He knew the whole thing was a hoax, but part of him would give anything, even if it was based on a lie, to help his social skills with Aerith.
As the crowd continued cheering, the stage hands brought up chairs and sat them behind Andrea, one by one. Andrea resumed talking without missing a beat.
"Behind me, you will see a set of chairs. If you are even slightly curious, I invite you to come on stage. I will not be picking people from the audience. If you want the chance to open your mind, you have to be willing to make the first move yourself. And so, now I will wait."
Andrea bowed his head for a moment, the music changed to a more subdued melody, and the energy in the theater shifted from exciting to mysterious. The house lights flickered on and Cloud took a second to survey his surroundings. Almost as if in unison, all three of his group members turned to face him, anxious to see how he would respond. Of course, they all wanted the guy who had said the least the whole day to go up on stage and make a fool of himself.
He watched a handful of other people from the audience slowly start to go on stage, their faces a mixture of excitement and hesitancy. The chairs on stage filled, and Cloud knew his time was running out. He couldn't volunteer, though. He couldn't.
Could he?
Maybe he could. Perhaps it was the alcohol running through his system, or Andrea's salesman skills, but this hypnosis thing might have some merit. Maybe this would give him the strength he finally needed to be proactive on this trip. It was torture enough feeling like he was frozen making any sort of move with Aerith.
Cloud turned his attention to her to study her face. Her eyes and smile widened more, almost like she sensed his hesitation. She clenched her hands in fists and pumped them up and down with an increasing amount of enthusiasm. She opened her mouth to let out an animated "Yes!", and nodded her head giddily.
He had seen Aerith in a range of emotions before, but this was the first time he had seen her so elated. How could he say no?
He glanced back towards the stage to take count of the remaining chairs, and he realized there were only a couple of empty seats left. He turned back to his friends, and before he could fully process what he was doing, he stood up and slowly walked to the stage. Upon doing so, he could hear the jubilant cheers of his friends behind him, giving him an extra nudge.
He made his way towards the chairs on stage, and turned around to get one last look at Aerith. Her smile had grown even larger than before, and for a second, seeing her face made the whole night worth it, no matter what was going to happen.
There was only one chair left when Cloud got on stage, and luckily, he was able to claim it. Andrea rejoined them in the center of the stage and the magnificent music resumed. The house lights dimmed, the stage lights turned on, and Cloud realized he could no longer see his friends over the blinding lights, even though he knew they could very easily see him.
This was a good idea, right? Well, ready or not, they all were about to find out.
A/N: So many IRL notes here!
EggSlums is a breakfast based on a place called EggSlut at the Cosmopolitan hotel. I'm actually not crazy about the real name, but the food is really good. Just be prepared for the long line if you go during peak breakfast time.
There are a couple of the hotels the group wanders into that aren't mentioned by name, but are real places. The casino with the gondolas is the Venetian, and you can actually ride them (for a fee). Mirage is the one with a nightly volcano that erupts, however it is being taken over by the Hard Rock, and they are supposedly getting rid of the volcano. So it may be outdated reference soon :( .. The casino where the guys play Blackjack could be lots of places, but I envisioned it at Treasure Island, which is a nice chill place on the Strip where they could most likely find low-limit tables and empty seats. It also would make sense based on the proximity of the casinos they already saw in relation to the rest of the Strip.
The Wynn is a real casino and is filled with lots of flowers. I actually got to meet the dedicated gardener, and I was really impressed by him, so I wrote him into the story. I wonder how he would feel about knowing he got written into some FF7 fanfic .. haha. The Buffet is a real place at the Wynn and is totally worth a visit, even if there most likely is a little wait. Fun fact, in the first draft of this story they were originally going to eat at a more casual restaurant, but I figured since the group was probably really hungry (and a buffet is like a Vegas staple), it made more sense. Only the fancy buffets in Vegas are still around, unfortunately. A lot of them went away after COVID :(
Finally, there are several hypnotist shows in Vegas. Mark Savard is the popular one right now, but other ones come and go. I watched a few in preparation for the next few chapters, so I could get the wording and the procedures right.