With a Bit of a Mind Flip
© Daeva
Disclaimer: The characters portrayed herein, with the exception of Jules and Danicia, who are of my creation, are the sole property of Mater. I'm just letting them have a bit of silly fun, not getting rich. So don't sue me, damn you! I have nothing you can't afford to buy yourself!
Rating: I'll say a strong R, for rough language.
Spoilers: None for the VC, I think, just for "Louis Horror Picture Show".
Notes: I had wanted to post this all together, but it's turning out much longer than I'd anticipated. This one may actually be twice the length of "Louis Horror"! It's told from Lestat's POV, in response to some new and unusual behavior on Louis' part. For those who are not RHPS savvy, the title is from the song "Time Warp" - the line goes "With a bit of a mind flip, you're into the time slip". And what Lestat ends up seeing is indeed a bit of a mind flip.
I had to find out what Louis was up to. Not knowing was driving me absolutely insane. For six straight weeks, he'd risen especially early on Saturday evenings and gone off with these two mortal women who'd befriended him. All of this, over a movie? I couldn't think of any book or movie that held his interest so keenly for him to sit through it six times in as many weeks!
Of course, he'd invited me to come along with them for a showing, but something within me wouldn't allow him to know how powerfully curious I really was about the whole thing. I feigned complete disinterest, and he didn't give it another thought, having learned long ago that badgering would get him nowhere. Although, I was highly amused by his sarcastic declaration as he left that night that he'd remember my refusal the next time Macbeth was being staged.
It was now Monday, and Louis had just excused himself to hunt for the evening. As soon as I was sure he was well away from the house and would be for some time (as he has the habit of wandering about after the kill, never returning directly home) I searched his desk. Soon I located the bit of paper upon which was written the women's phone number and names. Going then to my office, I flopped into my high backed leather chair and plucked the cordless phone off its' base, pressing the numbers in the proper sequence. After three or four rings, a woman with a seductively throaty voice answered.
"Ah, hello... Is it to Danicia or Jules that I am speaking?" I queried politely.
With some caution, perhaps skepticism she replied, "Depends. Who wants to know?"
"I am... Louis' companion."
"Oh! Yeah, Lestat! Hi! How are ya? This is Danicia."
Louis had given them my true name? Outrageous! To whom he told his own was one thing, but to share mine as well...! I struggled a bit to keep this shock from my voice. "Quite well, thank you, Danicia."
"Louis ain't here, I haven't seen him since after the show on Saturday. It really bummed him that you didn't come along, ya know."
"Yes, I'm sure it did, which is why I'm calling, actually. I'd like to surprise him, by attending with you next week, if you do intend to continue this weekly pattern, that is."
"Oh, sure, yeah, it's every week, rain or shine, whatever. You gonna come in costume? From what Louis says, you'd be awesome as Rocky!"
"Well, Danicia, I must confess my complete ignorance of the matter. Should I come in costume?"
"Oh, hell yeah, I think so! We'll get you all done up, you'll look like the bomb!"
Her colorful language was fascinating! Not that I don't engage in a bit of it myself from time to time - I can't help but do so, given the time I spent in the public eye, on stage several years ago. But I don't try to make a habit of it, as too frequent use makes it lose its' effectiveness, and makes the speaker sound base and low class. Decidedly not for this vampy bad boy, I assure you.
"Well, then, I am definitely in need of your assistance. Where can I find such a costume?"
She laughed at this question; I'd come to find later that she seems to laugh at much of what Louis and I say, for some reason. "Well, you probably won't find it, but I can sew it up for you, no problem."
"You're a skilled seamstress, then? What will your services cost me?"
Laughter. "Well, I don't know about being a 'skilled seamstress' and all that, but with Rocky Horror Picture Show outfits I do ok. And for you, since you're so tight with Louis, all I'll ask for is the cost of the leather and sewing stuff, which shouldn't be too much."
"You're too kind, Danicia, and I thank you. How long will it take to make this costume? Could you have it ready by this weekend's performance?"
"Oh, yeah, piece of cake. Only tough part will be doin' the rhinestones. You free right now? Maybe you can come on over and I can get your measurements and stuff, get things started."
"Absolutely. Just let me know where." She proceeded to rattle off the address of the apartment she and the other woman shared, which was off St. Charles, near Audubon Park.
"Think ya can find us?" she teased playfully.
Smiling into the receiver, I informed her "Chéri, I know the entirety of this city as if it were my own back yard. Trust me, I will find my way." With that, I rang off and set out to begin what was to be one of my more unusual of adventures...
Taking to the air from our little courtyard, I reached the apartment complex in no time at all. Thank you for flying Air de Lioncourt; you are now free to move about the atmosphere. Oh, sorry. Little private joke with myself...
At any rate, I entered the appropriate building and made my way up the two flights of stairs to the apartment. I had barely knocked on the door when it sprang open, and before me stood a ravishing creature with auburn hair, hazel eyes, high, full breasts and plump cherubically kissable cheeks. With a slow, sensual smile she leaned against the door and 'checked me out'; I could all but feel her eyes moving over my body, and it was a rather delicious sensation. Then came that lovely voice that was smooth as velvet.
"Lestat...?"
Trying to mock both expression and tone, I retorted. "Danicia...?"
This brought about another fit of laugher, and she opened the door more fully. "Come on in, honey."
Thanking her, I did so, and she closed the door behind me. "I truly do appreciate your willingness to help me out, chéri. Very kind, considering you don't even know me. I could be the most horrid of monsters, and you just let me walk right in."
Still laughing, she led the way more fully into the apartment. "Well, to hear Louis tell it, you really are! But if you're cool with him, you're cool with me. Haven't known him long, but he always seems to know the haps, ya know? Always seems to have the vibe down on people and stuff."
"Hmm, indeed," I mused. "Louis is very perceptive."
I surveyed the interior of the apartment - nothing out of the ordinary, really just your standard, cookie cutter flat, with beige carpet and eggshell walls. The furniture looked as if it may have been second hand, but seemed comfortable and well maintained none the less. What caught my eye, however, was the artwork the graced the walls. There were prints hung hither and yon with lovely drawings of beautiful, somewhat feminine pale complexioned males, one with golden hair and stunning blue eyes, another who had Louis' onyx tresses and emerald eyes. And these prints bore the names of our books! Fascinating! Louis would later explain to me that these are called Yaoi Doujinshi, and that they are from Japan.
Danicia had stepped into what I assumed was a bedroom to retrieve a measuring tape, and when she returned, she noticed my interest in the artwork.
"He's not nearly as pretty as you are!" she teased, drawing my attention away from the picture of 'me' leaning against what seemed to be a marble mantle, lacey shirt unbuttoned half way down 'my' chest.
"Hmm?" I muttered, distracted.
Just then, the door opened up behind me, and another young woman came in, slamming it behind her and grumbling loudly.
"Jesus fuckin' Christ! I'm sick of being a fuckin' retail slave!" She then spotted me and blinked several times, embarrassed that I'd witnessed this outburst. "Oh, hello."
"Heya, Jules." Danicia grinned widely at the girl, then gestured to me. "This is Lestat."
Jules' eyes looked as if they might well pop from her head. "Louis' boy? No kiddin'!"
"Yeah, dig this - he's gonna let us get him up as Rocky for the show this weekend, to surprise Louis! Is that fuckin' cool or what?" Jules clapped her hands and literally jumped up and down laughing.
"Damn! Louis' gonna piss himself when he sees you!"
I laughed, despite the crudeness of the comment. "Well, that certainly would be something..." Of course, neither of them quite comprehended the true depth and meaning of my words.
Danicia stood close to the two of us now, idly running the tape measure through her fingers and smiling wickedly. "'Stat was just checking out the yaoi of 'himself'." With that she winked at me, and I was beginning to wonder just how much about he and I Louis had told these two.
"Oh, man, the whole thing's just so hella cool, you two having the same names as the vamp chron characters!" exclaimed Jules, now flopping herself onto the jewel toned plaid sofa. "Louis told us all about how it happened!"
"Oh, did he?" I asked, hoping to elicit this story from them. Sure, I could have taken it directly from their minds, but st*ries are always so much more fun when you actually hear them told.
"Yeah, he said your moms both really dug Interview, and named you for the characters. And then when you met up at a Halloween party in the Quarter years ago, and you realized both your moms were that twisted, you took it as a sign. Kismet, that's how he put it." She laughed at this, and I couldn't help but smile. Oh, my beautiful, clever Louis! You never cease to amaze me...
"Well, yes, it certainly seemed that way to us at the time! I mean, what are the odds of two children being born so closely resembling fictional characters and being named for them, then meeting by chance and falling in love?" What are the odds, indeed.
I realized then that both these women were studying me very closely, and with no small amount of desire in their eyes as they did so, nor did they try to hide that desire. Jules shook her head sadly and sighed.
"All the good ones, Dani. All the good ones."
"Yeah, ain't it the truth? Oh, well! Enough drooling and lusting over something we can't have! Let's get you measured for your shorts..."
"Shorts?" I asked, a bit shocked. "I'm wearing shorts?
Giggling, Danicia went down on her knees before me. "You are, babe, and little else!"
"I'm starting to reconsider, I think..."
"Too late, boyo! Take your jacket off."
I wasn't joking about that, but reminded myself of how happy all of this would make Louis. In the end, a bit of humiliation would be worth it. So, I did as she asked, tossing the jacket onto a near by chair. She inched closer, wrapping her arms about my waist, and gasped as she inadvertently pressed against my groin. Oh, I couldn't wait to hear her reaction to this...
"Jesus!" she cried out very loudly. Her head went back and she looked up at me, eyes wide with amazement. "You are a very happy boy, aren't you!" From the sofa, Jules giggled schoolgirlishly. "My God! You're like a fuckin' ROCK!"
"That would be why Louis' always gushin' all over him, Dani," she quipped.
Looking from one to the other with my very best lop sided rakish smile, I said, "Louis has always known a good thing when he's had it... Perhaps not always appreciated it, but always known."
Danicia sucked in her breath sharply, releasing it slowly with a shake of her head. "Damn! He's' one lucky motherfucker, that's all I can say." Wiggling the tape measure down about my hips, she called out. "Hey, Jules - remember thirty four inches for me, will ya?"
With a slight smirk, Jules asked, "Was that the hips, or what made you gasp and holler like that?"
Sincerely and fully, I laughed out loud at her taunt. "Oh, my darling! I'm good, but not even I am that good!" The two of them squealed with delightful peals of laughter, and I was quickly realizing why Louis found their company so attractive - these girls were all about having a good time, about fun, and that's something that he needed more of in his life. Of course, had it been I who'd suggested this movie, or anything of the sort, he would have dismissed it out of hand, on principle. It was old hat for us by now.
Danicia had fallen back onto her rump, she'd laughed so hard and now looked up at me, trying to bring her giggling self under control. Tears streaked from the corners of her eyes and she wiped at them with the heel of her right hand. "Oh, God! 'Stat, you're gonna fit right in with the rest of us nuts at the show!"
I smiled warmly at her, and offered my hand to help her up. Thankfully, she was still reeling too hard from her laughter to notice that my hand was as firm as the other bit she'd encountered. "So tell me, just how short are these shorts I'll be wearing, hmm?"
"Well," she began hesitantly. "They're really less shorts and more like... briefs."
"Briefs?" Danicia nodded.
"Gold leather briefs at that!" piped in Jules.
I was seriously questioning what I'd voluntarily gotten myself into.
"Well, surely there's something more to the costume than just these... gold leather briefs," I queried them, wincing a bit at the very thought.
"Hmm, nope, that's pretty much it! Oh, well, there is one thing. You'll need to find a pair gold boxing boots, mid calf, thirteen eyelets if possible, with white laces. Those are going to be a bit pricey, but they're essential. You should be able to find 'em online. They'll run about seventy-five dollars or so. Is that doable?"
"Quite, cost is no issue here. But what you're saying is that I'm running about in underwear and boots. How am I going out in public like that and NOT getting arrested?"
"Oh, no worries, hon. Folks around the theatre are used to seeing it all by now!"
"Yes, I'm sure. But what about from home to the theatre?"
"Hmm," Danicia thought for a moment. "Well, I could make you a cape or somethin' like that. I'll see what I can scare up at the fabric store. Oh, and one more thing. You've gotta cut your hair."
"Cut my hair? Why?"
She stepped a bit closer to me and began fussing with my hair. Such a strange sensation, this, letting mortals touch and be so close to me. I was still somewhat amazed at myself for allowing it in the first place!
"Well, Rocky's hair is more shaggy. It's a shame, you've got such pretty hair, like Louis' - thick and shiny and silky. But for the right look, you've gotta take it up to the nape of your neck, just a bit down around the ears, and bangs over your forehead."
Cut my hair... But what was this to me anyway? All is restored in the death sleep. "Alright, that's not a big deal. My hair grows rather quickly anyway."
"Huh, funny. Louis said the same thing about his. Must be a French thing."
Smiling, I nodded. "Yes, chéri. It's a French thing."
I gave Danicia two hundred dollars in cash, thinking that should well cover anything she needed to buy, plus a bit for her trouble. She told me to give her a call on Thursday, that she should have everything ready by then.
TBC