RPG SPEC: Dagger of the Mind Sequel to "Hollywood Vampires" Part 8, Posts 211-240 _________________________________________________________________________ Post 211: Pandora She sighed with frustration. I come all this way to talk to her, last night she summons me, and here I am flying over New Orleans calling her like a lost puppy. Enough of this, I can find her.... With that thought Pandora flew to Lestat's flat, the secret one that Jesse had told her about. She had tried the rue royale and had discreetly swept Antonio's mindso she knew that they weren't there and so she headed for the 'Penthouse'. She sure was glkad she didn't have to go there, the feelings emanating from that place were almost painful. She landed on the balcony short seconds later. The door opened under her hand and she stepped inside. "Why hello Daniel, what are you doing here? I was looking for Gabrielle and Jessica..." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 212: Daniel "Why hello Daniel, what are you doing here? I was looking for Gabrielle and Jessica..." Still in his dreams, Daniel heard that feminine yet husky voice that sounded extremely sexy. He slowly opened his eyes and tried to see what was happening around him... And there, the slender figure of a woman with shiny dark hair, the light of the moon gleaming off the ebony locks. Daniel was dizzy, confused, and in so much pain. He could barely breath, his ribs weighing heavily against his lungs the pressure choking him. "You look bad...what the hell happened to you?" she spoke again. "Pandora?" "Yes, the Goddess Pandora in the flesh. What happened, you cut school and Armand punished you for being a bad boy?" She teased. Daniel sat up on the bed, a little annoyed by Pandora's last comment. "I don't know where Armand is...," Daniel mumbled. He grimaced a little and raised his hand to touch his blood stained lips. "Ah! Everything hurts," he moaned. "Whatever happened?" Pandora asked. "You don't want to know," Daniel said. The images of the previous night began swimming through his mind causing a cold blood sweat perspire from his body. Fear. His body falling inside a deep dark abyss and no one around to help him... "Ah, you idiot!" Pandora touched his mind and laughed. "You're the biggest vampire geek in the entire coven! Get in the shower and change those clothes. I'll teach you how to fly!" Daniel looked at her and shook his head. "No, I don't want to do it anymore!" "Don't be afraid, Daniel. I'll show you the right way." She insisted, taking Daniel by the hand and dragging him out of bed. "Where are Jesse and Gabrielle?" "Look, boy, I don't know where they are, but the night awaits and we can't waste time!" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 213: Brad Brad left the catering tent and wandered out into the deepening night. He had only picked at the food Emma had heaped on his plate. The food tasted like sawdust in his mouth as his mind began to turn over the previous evenings events, and soon he found that he couldn't force down another bite. `Tony, where the hell are you?' Brad worried to himself as he strolled beneath the trees, seeking the quite area just out of range of the lights and noise of the busy trailers. Here he could hear the night sounds, and actually see the stars and the slanting patterns the moonlit trees made on the ground. He stopped, leaned back against a tree and wrapped his arms around himself tightly, as if to contain something. It was a habit, something _he_ couldn't shake, that he'd picked up from "Interview". "Damn you, Tony, why couldn't you have just picked up a thing for intrepid boy reporters?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 214: Louis Placing his clothing in the drawers and closet space was a very unsettling experience for Louis. There was no Lestat to make disagreeable noises as he arranged his shirts in the bureau drawer by color, not by style, as Lestat always favored. There was no Lestat to snort over the thread bare sweaters Louis treasured for their softness. There was no blond devil to fight off as he'd wrestle Louis to the bed. Louis shut his eyes. Lestat had let *him* go, he was the one who had been wronged. Hadn't he begged Lestat not to leave? And when it seemed certain Lestat would go, and the horrible truth that he was no longer loved and wanted by Lestat descended upon him, hadn't he asked Lestat to kill him... to stop the pain? He crossed the room and stared out the window onto the twinkling lights below. But their time together had always been marked by passionate arguments and passionate making up. This time it was so *final*. Lestat. His maker, companion, lover. Louis owed him some words not spoken in anger. He sank into a chair and closed his eyes. Who was close to Lestat, David? Where was he? Louis sighed and called him. ::David... please tell Lestat I wish to see him. I owe him that much. I'm at the Omni.:: _________________________________________________________________________ Post 215: David David waited for the occupants of the flat to leave before he made his exit. He had no intention of starting a conflict with Armand and Marius tonight. Too much had happened already and he was not up for a sparring match over the details of what happened in Hong Kong. It wouldn't have helped the situation anyways. Louis had made up his mind before their arrival. So David quitly remained in his room and gathered up the rest of his belongings. When they were finally gone, he called a cab and for the first time in the last few days, he collected his thoughts. First off was finding a place to stay. Where did Santino always room at? ::The St. Louis, yes that is it.:: "Driver, please take me to the St. Louis." He leaned back against the the seat and pressed his fingers to his tempels. That was enough for the night. When he got there, he would sleep until next sunset. No sooner then he made his decision, he heard Louis call to him ::David, tell Lestat I would like to speak to him, I owe him that. I'm at the Omni.:: "What the hell does he expect *me* to do?" David spoke quitly to himself. "I was with *him* when Lestat stormed out." ::Louis, I don't know where he is right now, but I will tell him when I see him next.:: He slammed his shields down after the last word...he didn't wan to be disturbed by anythingelse tonight. Just one night of peace was all he wanted. The entire coven could kill each other and he wouldn't care tonight. They arrived at the St. Louis and he walked up to the front desk. "I need a room for one for the next few days. _No_ one is to disturb me for the rest of the night or tomorrow. Is that clear?" The clerk nodded. David was about to follow the clerk to his room, when he felt the presence of another vampire. ::Santino? Is that you?:: _________________________________________________________________________ Post 216: Antonio Brad jumped when he felt the arms wrap around him. "What the..." Antonio gave him a crooked grin, only tightening the hug. "Intrepid boy reporters were never the challenge you were, mi amigo." Brad returned his smile, though he could not conceal the underlying worry. "Where did you disappear to? Or should I ask?" Antonio released him and stepped back. He looked around, then began strolling toward one of the quieter areas - away from the noise. "It all depends." he commented at last. "Do you want to know?" "Not really. But curiosity will kill me unless you tell me." He shot Antonio a sideways grin. "So, how is he?" Eyes sparkling, he made a gesture, half sheepish, half playful. "Louis is... everything I thought he might be. The fantasy in real life." "The word made flesh?" Brad said sarcastically. "No, that's Armand." He grinned even wider when Brad swatted at him, then grimaced in pain. "You've got to watch that." "Rub it in, why don't you." They stopped some distance from the set and watched the bustling activity. "So what's on for tonight? I've not even looked at a script in days." Brad shot Antonio a look. "Nights, I mean. Whatever." "I dunno." Brad replied thoughtfully. "The way things are going, we may not even get going tonight." "Why?" "They can't find Tom. Again." Antonio groaned. Then he frowned. "I wonder..." Brad shot him a curious look, but Antonio simply closed his eyes and concentrated. Then, with a startled gasp he opened his eyes again. "Oh no." "What? Did you find him?" "Yeah. I found him. Damnit!" His curses were soft. "Tony, where is the guy?" Brad took in his sudden agitation, his narrowed eyes. "Oh man. Who's got him?" Antonio's response was grim. "Lestat." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 217: Marius Marius stood with Armand outside of the Rue Royale flat, after watching first Antonio and then Louis leave. David had gone back inside to collect his things. Marius had almost expected Armand to ask him about his conversation with Louis but he didn't. He stood, silent, his expression withdrawn and thoughtful, his eyes dark. It was not an expression he had ever seen on his Amadeo, but he had grown to know it quite well on Armand. And it chilled him. He tried to draw Armand out. "Do you want to find Gabrielle and talk to her?" A boneless shrug was his only answer. He sighed softly and tried again. "Or we can find a place to stay. The flight was tiring, and I wouldn't mind resting for awhile." That, at least, earned him a quick glance. "Whatever you want," Armand replied softly, with another small shrug. He looked away again, as though it really didn't matter to him. It probably didn't. Marius didn't need to be able to sense Armand's mind to know the rage seething in that too quiet darkness. He has witnesses the flash in Armand's dark eyes when the younger vampire had seen the marks on Antonio, and he could feel the black tension that had surrounded him ever since. He doubted there was anything he could do to immediately dispell that anger besides delivering Lestat's head on a platter. So, first things first. He got them a cab, drawing an unresisting and unresponding Armand with him and instructing the driver to the Regency Hotel. The cab ride was silent and uncomfortable. Marius could feel his own temper rising slowly, irritation at the sheer injustice of every interruption and new crisis burning in him. He had so hoped to be able to wash his hands of this situation, to be able to retreat to a quiet and sane world with Armand, and now it seemed it was not to be. And after centuries of being the father and caretaker, he was abruptly realizing that all of the trust placed upon him by the others, the claims they had on him, the weight of their needs, was infuriating. ::I want my own life,:: he thought bitterly. ::My own space, time to be nothing but myself.... Have I not given enough of my life to our family, that I can't even claim this small thing? How do I seperate Marius the man from Marius the mediator?:: The questions tormented him. He had spent so many centuries with one need or another placed before his own- the Mother and Father, Pandora, crisis after crisis, all somehow coming back to him because he was the only one who WOULD put themselves out to fix the problem... He had not been able to think soley of himself since he had been a mortal man. And he desperately wanted to, now. To think of nothing but himself for a change, and of Armand, and of this love that was recreated between them and seemed so fragile and precious... At the hotel he didn't waste time or words. He fixed the clerk with a stern gaze, slapped down a credit card, and procurred them one of the best suites for the next several nights. "We are NOT to be disturbed unless we call for room service," he said firmly. The man behind the desk nodded and assured him it was all taken care of, his eyes slightly glazed from Marius' stare. Satisfied, Marius took the keys and Armand and went up to their room. It was a large and comfortable suite, but, most importantly, it was QUIET. And private. And none of the others knew where they were, though they could certainly be found if anyone bothered to try. Marius felt some of the anxiety flow out of him just from the simple act of shutting and bolting the door of the suite behind them. If only locking out the world was so easy.... Armand flung himself into a chair, still caught up in his own thoughts. Too frustrated and irritated himself to sit still, Marius poked about through the various rooms of the suite, exploring everything from the small bar built into one of the cabinets to the contents of the desk drawers and the air conditioning controls. He disappeared behind one door and Armand heard his surprised exclamation. Armand bolted up, distracted for a moment, and went to the door, jerking it open. "What...?" The bathroom was nothing short of luxerious, but what had caught Marius' attention was the circular sunken pool of water, from which steam rose in a warm mist. Marius sighed, reaching up to rake back his hair. "You have _no_ idea," he said, slipping out of his coat and dropping it to the tiled floor, "how _good_ it sounds just to sit and relax. To hell with it all, the others can sort it out themselves for a few hours." Marius unbuttoned his shirt, shrugging it off with angry motions and throwing it to the ground as well. Armand watched with a type of bemused fascination as Marius' shoes and slacks followed the growing pile on the floor, before Marius stepped, slowly, into the steaming water. His sigh was one of sybaritic pleasure, and his blue eyes were half lidded when he turned to beckon to Armand. "Amadeo... please. I don't want to talk about the others for an hour or so. I don't want to think about them. I want to pretend all of that doesn't exist, just for a little while..." He couldn't help the little note of pleading that crept into his voice. He held out a hand to Armand's still figure. "Join me?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 218: Armand Armand woke, and for a moment could not recall where he was. Ah, yes. He smiled gently at Marius, so still in sleep. He was pleased he had been able to distract his lover... that had been no easy task. Moving slowly, he eased himself away from Marius and out of the bed, wrapping himself in one of the plush robes he had found earlier. He closed the door of the bedroom gently behind him, then moved through the living room to the balcony. From here he had a fantastic view of downtown New Orleans. With a whispering sigh, the doors opened and Armand moved a chair to where he could sit and look out over the city. Vividly he recalled the marks on Antonio's throat, the haunted expression on Louis' face, the determination burning within his eyes. "This may be it, Lestat." Armand thought. "He may actually be done with you, you fool. I doubt it... but how you must be suffering now." Armand's lips curved into a small smile at the thought. "The pain you must feel must surely rival the tortures of hell - to know that Louis has found happiness in the arms of Gabrielle's *other* son." Still as the night itself, Armand lost himself in thought as the moon traced a path across the sky. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 219: Brad "Tom is with Lestat? Oh, man. Oh *man*! Tony, is he in any danger?" Brad had no idea why he'd asked that, or what he could do about it if Tom was in danger. He blinked in surprise that that particular question had come from his lips. "No, Brad. *Tom* is not in any danger," Antonio responded, he voice still strangely grim. "Hey, Tony," Brad moved closer to his friend and brushed back the silky soft shoulder length hair back from Tony's face. "Come out of there, and tell me what's up. Why are you so jumpy all of a sudden?" "It's nothing, Brad. Don't concern yourself," Antonio murmured, stepping back away from Brad. Brad closed the distance between them again. "Bullshit, Tony. Don't give me that `it's nothing' crap! I saw your face when you said Tom wasn't in danger. You said it like someone other that Tom might be..." Brad trailed off as the realization hit him. "Holy shit. Does Lestat know about you and Louis?" Brad stared at his friend in mounting horror. "Yes, he does. He found us together." "What do you mean, `found you together'? Tony gave Brad a long look. "Oh that's just great! That's just fucking *won*derfull! He's going to kill you, you know that don't you?" Brad glared at Tony as if he could do something to change what had already happened. "I doubt that he would kill me, Brad, Louis wouldn't allow..." "Don't stand there and tell me you think Louis could stop him from wasting you if he decided to throw a fit about `finding you together'! We're talking about Lestat here, Antonio!" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 220: Antonio Antonio had to smile. "Antonio, is it? You *must* be upset." "Get serious, man." Brad snapped. "If Lestat wants you dead, you're dead. Even a *mortal* knows that." He tried to make light of the situation. "You're the only person in this world I allow to call me "Tony", so you might as well take advantage of it." "Fine. Now I know what to say in the eulogy. 'Ode to my very dead friend Tony'." "Listen, there's nothing you can do about it." Antonio ran a hand through his hair, which promptly fell into his face again. "In truth, there's nothing *I* can do about it! So why worry? Tom is with him. I don't think Lestat will do anything. At least, I hope not. And if he does, same situation applies. There is not one thing you or I or anyone could do about it. He's as close to a God as currently exists in this world." Brad took a few angry steps away, then turned and pointed. "Yeah? Well, he's not god, Tony. He's powerful, but he's not god, and he can be stopped." He made another gesture, then turned again. "And he'd better not hurt Tom. And if he lays one finger on you..." Antonio stepped forward to place his hands on Brad's shoulders, lightly gripping the taller man and giving him a small shake. "Stop. Just stop." He waited until Brad took a deep breath. Then he grimaced and nodded, calming somewhat. "Good. Let's go to your trailer. You can have a drink, and they'll know where to find us if shooting actually starts." He tugged Brad until the two of them were walking back towards the trailer. "Hell, I don't even know where my script is... what the new schedule is... nothing." He kept prattling about nothing in particular until they reached the trailer, hoping to keep Brad's mind off of anything having to do with a homicidal brat, and his newest pet. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 221: Tom Tom Cruise only *thought* he knew what fine living, celebrety style was. Everywhere he went, people treated him like a king. Anything he wished, the smallest thing, done. No questions asked. That was nice. He was used to that. Lestat de Lioncourt lived like a *God*. And was so thoroughly used to it that to him it seemed perfectly normal. When he wished to cross the street, he stopped traffic. Literally. When he wished to move quickly, unseen, he was invisable to mortal eyes. When he wished attention nothing stood before him. In a daze Tom wondered why he didn't tell the rain to stop. "Don't give him ideas." Santino muttered. Tom could only nod in hasty agreement. Once they were comfortably settled in a palacial suite, Lestat rubbed his hands, obviously ready for action. "Now what?" "Lestat?" Tom asked. "Were you serious? I can stay with you?" "Unless you object." "In which case we'll toss you from the balcony." Santino added, grinning. "I *don't* object." Tom stressed at once, startling Santino by returning his cheeky grin. "In fact, it's a dream come true. Lestat is right. I can help. I can move by day, and I know not only what's going on, but everyone involved." He turned to look again at Lestat. "I can help you." Lestat gave him a measured look. "And in return for this assistance, what do you want?" Tom took a deep breath. "To be with you. To be a part of..." he gestured around them, "this. All of it. Everything." "Nothing more?" "The only other thing I truly want at this time you can't help me with." Lestat raised his eyebrows. "Really? Sounds like a challenge. And don't underestimate me. What is it?" It was Tom's turn to level a measured gaze at his companion. Finally he said evenly "I want Brad." Lestat's chin dropped to his chest. "You want *what*?" Tom grinned. "*Exactly*. Not who - what. I want Brad... but, maybe not the way you think." He shook his head slightly, trying to explain the feelings which had come over him lately in a way that might make sense. "Ever since our first meeting, Lestat, I've seen the world in a different way. Through different eyes, you might say. Everything altered, just slightly. But enough..." He frowned and began again. "Brad, as an individual, means little to me. But Brad - as *Louis* means the world to me. He belongs with me, just as Louis belongs with you." He looked up, praying Lestat would understand. "That is an interesting way to look at it." Lestat finally replied. Tom nodded. "Now you see why you can't help. But somehow I've got to get his mind off of bloody Antonio/Armand whoever... and back on me, where it belongs." He flashed the grin which commanded millions per film. "If anyone can do it, I can." He headed for the door. "I'll be back before sunset." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 222: Brad Brad knew what Tony was up to, and it wasn't working. All that chatter about the night's shooting schedule and the script was crap! He was just trying to deflect anymore questions and worries on Brad's part. Brad fished in the pocket for his jeans and fished out the keys to the trailer. Opening the door, he ushered Tony in, caught by surprise for a moment as Tony easily moved about the cramped darkened interior with ease. `He's a vampire, you dope. He doesn't need the to wait for the lights to come on!' "No, I don't," Antonio said from where he sat on the narrow sofa. "Tony...," Brad began, flipping on the lights, then crossing to his desk and pulling out a copy of the script. "I'm sorry. I forgot. So kill me, why don't you," Antonio said, laughing. "That was very not funny, Tony." Brad scowled at him. "I swear, I'm concerned about your sense of humor these days." When Antonio continued to laugh, Brad grinned at his friend, unable to stay angry at him for long. He went to the small cupboard over the sink, and poured himself a stiff drink before going over to flop on the sofa next to Antonio. "Come on, let's see if we can get some work done." Brad slapped Antonio in the chest with the script, and they began to read through the lines. The worked steadily for awhile, Brad feeding Antonio lines and helping him work through different parts of the script. They fell into a laughing fit, Brad's helped along by the two additional drinks he'd had as at one point, Antonio declared that while he would gladly torment Tom, he drew the line at seducing him! "He is not you, my friend," Tony said, with mock seriousness. "I do not look forward to being in his arms one bit!" "Ha! Now you know how I felt on the last picture, with him crawling all over me all the time. Every time I turned around I ran into the guy!" "But at least you had the luxury of pretending you did not seek his advances. *I* have to actively pursue him," Antonio shuddered with exaggerated horror and Brad collapsed in helpless laughter. "Well, Tony, if anyone could make those scenes convincing, it's you. I mean if you did it for me..." Brad broke off and blushed furiously, remembering. "Ah, but I wanted to touch you, to kiss you. I only had to make _you_ comfortable with the idea, not the both of us." Brad stared at Antonio, all of a sudden at a lost for words. After a moment, he reach out a hesitant hand and touched Antonio's face. "It hardly feels like you anymore. Every time I touch you now, shocks me." "I know, Brad, I know I feel different, but it is still me." Antonio gently took Brad's hand from his face and kissed the center of his palm. He slid over on the sofa, and put his arms around his friend. "It's still me!" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 223: Antonio Antonio moved back slightly, until he could look his friend in the eyes once more. "I wondered," he said softly, "if you would allow me to touch you again." A slight smile played on his lips. "Or if it was just a fluke between us, for the film." It was the best he could do - give Brad one opportunity to stop cold before Antonio's new emotions, fuled by Latin passion, completely overwhelmed him. The attraction between himeslf and Brad had always been a powerful thing, but now... he found it increasingly difficult to focus on anything more than the sound of the beating of Brad's heart, the scent of the blood so close to the skin. Unable to help himself, he reached out to gently trace his nails down the column of Brads throat, smiling again when he swallowed in reaction. Brad groaned, deep in his throat, and briefly looked at the ceiling. "Shit..." Then he suddenly reached forward, drawing Antonio into a searing kiss. Antonio responded at once, casting all doubts aside, reason abandoned immediately for sensation. Last night had been a waltz between himself and Louis - but this... a firestorm. Completely beyond anything ever imagined. In a daze Antonio wondered if Brad felt anything like what he was experiencing, and instinctively reached out to touch his his mind, his heart. Brad stiffened, as though every nerve had been brushed by electricity. Then he cried out, nearly sobbing as pure passion washed through him, transmitted by Antonio, returned in full measure, and returned again in an escalating spiral of desire. Antonio held him tightly, then ran his hands through Brad's hair, grasping tightly. Closing his eyes, he followed the frantic urgings of his heart. Before the action could register, he plunged his fangs into Brad's throat, the passion between them focused in that one explosion of sensation. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 224: Brad `What the hell am I doing,' Brad thought as he put his arms around Antonio. `I've lost my mind, that's what. This has all been too much for me, I..,' he stopped his mental panic short as Antonio pulled back from him and began to speak. The words faded in and out of Brad's hearing. They weren't important anyway - Tony's eyes said everything that needed to be said. He was still there all right, maybe even more there than before. Tony's eyes seemed to whispers words of passion and desire into Brad's brain, and flood him with heat. And then Tony ran those cool fingers down the skin of his throat, and Brad felt his whole body leap in response. Before he could stop himself, he'd grabbed Tony and kissed him. Tony responded with a immediate overwhelming passion, and Brad pulled him closer trying to get as close as he could, reaching for something he couldn't name. Then it hit him - what he had been reaching for. As the full onslaught of Antonio's passion and desire swept over him and collided with his own, he cried out, "This...THIS!" It was like a perfect note of music, or the warm, sensual sound of Antonio's accented English stroking his ears. It was like the feeling you get when something is so perfect and so beautiful that it brings tears to your eyes because there are no words to describe it. It was like stained glass windows. And just when he though his body would explode with pure ecstacy, just as he thought it couldn't get more perfect - it did. He felt the fangs enter him. He knew instantly what it was from his time with Jessie. But this wasn't Jessie - this was Tony. Tony, his friend, who he loved and trusted. Tony who he admired greatly...and wanted more than he had ever admitted to himself. Brad's body arched like a taunt bowstring and he fell backwards on the narrow sofa. His arms tightened around Antonio as he felt the first surge of blood leave his body, and his mind exploded in shards of blinding, colored light. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 225: Antonio At once his senses were filled with Brad... the very essence of his friend pouring through him like purest, dancing light. Emotions flooded through Antonio in a blanketing caress, admiration, affection, and yes - desire which had always remained unspoken, but vividly real. He was drowning in the heat, his universe focused to one blazing, rainbow colored soul... whose colors even now began to fade. Like a exotic flower, picked from it's stem to wilt. In shock Antonio tore himself away, looking in horror at what he had done. Brad lay in his arms, unmoving, a gentle smile completing his peaceful expression. At once Antonio checked his pulse, feeling rather faint when he found it to be slow, but steady. "What have I done?" he thought frantically, over and over again. "I could have killed him..." An even worse scenario followed that. Had he drained Brad just to the point of death, as Lestat had Louis - two choices still remain. Watch his beloved friend slip into death, or tear open his wrist and... Antonio felt ill, a deep shudder running through him. Brad had said time and again that he would refuse the Dark Gift if ever it was offered - Brad, the golden creature of the sun - more Lestat's physical counterpart in real life than Louis'. Trembling slightly, Antonio held Brad in his arms, rocking gently back and forth until the blue eyes fluttered open, focused, then came to rest on him. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 226: Brad Brad opened his eyes slowly. He didn't want to, he really didn't, but he had to. He could feel through some tenuous bond that Tony was extremely upset. His eyes swam into focus, and a small gasp escaped him. "You're real again," he whispered, his eyes filled with the sight of his friend flushed and glowing with life. "Did I do that for you?" "Yes," the word escaped Antonio like a moan of pain. "I took too much!" Antonio tilted his head back and clinched his eyes shut, trying to escape the look of love - and fascination - that flooded Brad's face. "I nearly killed you, amigo," he ground out. "Yeah, but what a way to go. I feel like we have to get married or something now - you know the, `My Daddy finds out about this he's gonna be after you with his shotgun' bit," Brad laughed shakily. He stopped when he saw the look on Tony's face. "Hey - it's okay, Tony. I'm okay, really. You didn't hurt me at all." Brad saw that he wasn't getting through to Tony and he reached for him - only his hand didn't quite make it. The simple movement seemed to require a huge effort and his head swam as his hand flopped back against his side. "No, I didn't hurt you," Antonio said angrily, "only you can't even lift your hand from your side, and your face goes as white as mine should be from just trying to move. No - you're not hurt at all!" "Tony, why are you so mad?" Brad felt strangely tearful, as if all of his emotions were too close to the surface. "Because I don't want you to die, and because I don't want to kill you!" Antonio shouted at Brad, and just as Brad was about to interrupt him, he went on. "And because I do want to kill you. I want you, Brad, all of you - your thoughts, your love, the very beating of your heart and I don't know if I can stop myself from taking it!" "Well take it then if you have to, only promise me you won't try and *rescue* me. That's all I ask! Promise me, Tony, and I'll believe you." Brad managed through sheer force of will to get himself upright, and though the room tilted and swam, he was able to grab hold of Antonio. "I know that you'd rather die than hurt me, and if something should happen where you can't stop, or I get hurt real bad, I don't want you to panic and try to keep me with you. So promise me, right now!" Brad shook Antonio a little, forcing the other man to look at him. "I promise, mi amigo," Antonio looked at Brad, his eyes filled with a painful longing. And they were kissing again, and Brad felt a shock of surprise as Tony lifted him as if he weighed no more than an infant, and put him on the bed. "Tony, what...?" "I have to go, amigo. It is too hard for me to stay with you now. Do you understand?" Antonio pushed him gently down into the bed cushions. "Don't run away from me, Tony. I mean, this isn't the last time I'll see you is it?" Brad's hands caught at Antonio as he tried to move away from the bed. "We've had this conversation before. I don't want to go through it everytime we get together, so convince me!" "Of course, you'll see me. We've got a picture to finish, remember?" Antonio forced out a smile, but Brad could feel him trembling. He sat up again, and slid his hands into Tony's hair, turning Tony's head so that the warm brown eyes looked directly into his. "I'm not talking about the picture, Tony. I'm talking about us, our friendship. I don't want to loose you to the night." Brad leaned in until their lips were just touching, "Say this isn't the end." Antonio was shaking violently now, "It's not the end, my friend..." Brand swallowed the rest of Tony's reply in a searing kiss, beyond caring that he held death in his hands. As he pulled Tony down onto the bed a soft voice said in his mind, ::Sleep.:: _________________________________________________________________________ Post 227: Antonio Antonio was shaking as the reality of his actions hit him. He could barely speak the words Brad so desperatly wanted to hear. "It's not the end, my friend..." Brad didn't even let him finish, but instead swallowed his words in a kiss that redefined passion. It was all Antonio could do to focus on a single word... send it to his friend. ::Sleep:: Brad slumped in his arms, the peaceful look on his face lending him an angelic appearance. Nothing like Armand... but still a creature of heaven, no doubt. Creature of light, drawn into the whirling madness of the Darkness. Antonio stumbled away from his slumbering friend, slipped, and crashed to the floor. Frantic, he looked up, but Brad slept on, oblivious. Finally he made it to the door and out into the darkness. Without a backwards glance he sped into the night, to the safety of the hotel Louis had chosen. He scanned the mind of the clerk for the number, unwilling to face another mortal. When he arrived the door swung open before him. He knew without looking that the suite was empty. Shuddering, he collapsed onto the bed before finally letting the tears come. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 228: Daniel "Look, boy, I don't know where they are, but the night awaits and we can't waste time!" _Boy_...Daniel frowned at the sound of that word. Why was it that most members of the coven treated him as if he were a "boy"! Jesse called him "Boy"; Gabrielle, David, and Marius "young one"; Lestat called him a "fledgling" Why? He was tired of it! After all, he _was_ older than Jesse and David, why did they feel differently? "Perhaps it's your attitude," Pandora remarked. She smiled at Daniel and playfully mussed his ashen hair. "Don't do that!" Daniel yelled. "I'll show you what I'm capable of doing!" "Jumping from the 4th flour of a building and throwing temper tantrums, so what else are you good for?" Pandora teased. "You'll see...," Daniel grinned. He looked around searching for Jesse and Gabrielle. "I've already told you, they are not here!" "Okay, aunt Pandy!" "What do you mean, 'aunt'?" "Well, you're Armand's minion sister, aren't you? That somehow makes you my aunt!" "Makes, sense, Daniel. Are you ready to go now? I'll teach you how to fly!" Daniel shook his head. "I have other plans for tonight. And now that I think of it...," Daniel paused, looking at Pandora up and down "could you turn around?" He indicated with a little motion of his finger. "What?" "Let me see you walk!" Pandora did as she was told, walking accross the room and then, stopping face to face with Daniel. "Not bad at all," Daniel said. "I think you have a chance...Yup, a pretty good chance!" "What's this all about, Daniel?" "Ah, you will see! Let's go to the set. I'll explain you on the way!" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 229: David ::Santino? Where are you? What are you doing here?:: David was sure now that the presence he felt was that of Santino's. With all he had been through, he had forgotten about him. Santino was probably furious with him for leaving Talbot Mannor without saying anything. He had left word with the house keeper, but he had promised to be back later that night. He wouldn't blame Santino if he refused to answer him. ::David, come up to the room. Lestat is waiting for you.:: He was with Lestat, that meant apologies and his quit night would have to be put on hold. Hewas a little surprised that Lestat even wanted to see him. He seemed quite angryabout not being told of Gabrielle and Antonio. He locked on to Santino and trudged his way to the room not knowing what to expect from either of them. He wrapped on the door, though it was unlocked. "David, come in I have to talk to you. I'm going to need your help setting up an office--" "Lestat!" David interupted. "Slow down and let me come in first." He looked over at Santino standing at the opposite end of the room, his arms crossed as he stared out the window refusing to meet David's gaze. "Before you get started, I have a message from Louis." Lestat's eyes narrowed and his expression changed to grief and then to that of anger. "What does he want?" Lestat said in an even tone, trying to mask his feelings. "He wants to meet with you at the Omni. He said he owed it to you to talk it out before he left." "Did he?" Lestat said with a tone of danger rising in his voice. "Lestat! Remember, you left him, he's bound to be hurt by what you did. You can't blame him if he needs to get away." "GET AWAY?! You saw it! You saw him with that dimestore porn star!" "Lestat calm down for God's sake! It's called the rebound, I'm sure he'll get over it, but you have to calm down! You stay like this and you're going to lose any chance you have to win him back." "Fine. David, tell Louis I'll meet him tonight at the Omni. Tell him to leave his new pet at home." ::Louis, Lestat said he would meet you. Be at the lounge of the Omni in a half hour.:: "Alright Lestat, he knows. Be at the lounge in a half hour and try to be good. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 230: Louis David's voice jolted him from his reading. ::Louis, Lestat said he would meet you. Be at the lounge of the Omni in a half hour.:: Louis sighed. He knew he would have to face Lestat sooner or later. It was really for the best. Say good bye. Say good bye to all those years of centering his life on one golden god. Just take leave. It wouldn't be easy. Nothing in this existence was easy or simple. There was no other choice, no other way to end the pain that gripped his heart. He pulled a soft, dark green cashmere sweater over his head, and raked the hair back from his eyes. This was really it. The end. It was hard to believe - after everything they'd endured together. The love, the laughter, the tears. Louis glanced at his reflection. The pale phantom that gazed back was no longer Lestat's companion. "I can't endure another decade with him. He's killing me. I know that now. I have to make the break. It must be clean. It must be complete." Louis reasoned with himself. Instead of his reflection, all he could see was the blazing light that was Lestat. The effulgence that engulfed him in the taste of Lestat's blood. Louis could feel the very touch of Lestat's fingertips gently moving over his body, the sensation of Lestat's mouth over his as Lestat claimed him, body and soul... "NO!" Louis shouted. He snapped away from the mirror, fists clenched. "No..." his voice was softer, but resolute. "It's over." Louis took a deep breath and left the suite. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 231: Louis Louis casually strolled into the lounge off the hotel lobby. He nodded to the bartender, who seemed to be drowsing in the dimly lit room. Louis took a few additional paces and glanced around. The place was empty except... except for a figure sitting in a corner alcove table. Louis knew that profile anywhere. Lestat slowly glanced up. Louis nodded to him and walked over. "Lestat." Louis greeted him, his voice soft. "Bon Soir, Monsieur." Lestat replied, with out lifting his eyes from the amber colored fluid in the glass on the table. "Or should I say 'Burro's nachos'?" Lestat raised his eyes slightly to catch Louis expression as he took the seat opposite. Louis ignored the remark. Lestat leaned back in the chair and drummed his fingers on the table. "I see you have torn yourself away from your... lover." Lestat tried to get Louis to look him in the eye but failed. "What is it you wish to see me about? My critique of your chosen companion?" "Lestat," Louis glanced into Lestat's face, but avoided his eyes. "I didn't want it to end like that." "Like what, Louis?" Lestat tilted his head to one side? "My returning to our home to find you in bed with a Mexican Chihuahua? I must say it was a bit of a shock. I always thought that if you were going to cheat on me it would at least be with one of the more attractive members of the coven. You've always been fond of Daniel. I might have half expected that. Or perhaps Jesse? There must be something that snide little tongue of hers is good for..." "I didn't *cheat* on you, Lestat. You left me, remember?" "And it didn't take you very long to hop into the sack with that excuse for a vampire, did it?" Lestat shot back. "You aren't making it any easier for me..." Louis began. "Do you think it was easy for me to leave you? I didn't want to..." "But you did." Louis met Lestat's glaze with angry eyes. "You left *me*. You knew how I'd feel, didn't you? You knew how I'd react, or was that all part of your plan? Leave me despairing and desolate. Leave me just long enough for the pain to begin to ebb, just long enough..." "To find comfort in the arms of some *short* flash-in- the-pan actor?" Lestat gave Louis an evil grin. "No, long enough for me to begin to see light and feel something besides the loss." Lestat shook his head. "Louis. It really doesn't become you, these theatrics." He sat back and quietly regarded him. "You know... I could be persuaded to forget about it. You could leave this tourist motel and come back with me." Louis stared at him, his face devoid of emotion. "So you could regain my trust?" "Oui." Lestat nodded. "So that you could turn around and hurt me again?" Louis leaned across the table. "You're killing me, Lestat. Do you know that? Are you enjoying the fact that every time you pull a stunt, you come a little bit closer to utterly destroying me? Do you know that this time..." Louis sat back, his eyes still levelled at Lestat's, "This time, I came *that* close to going into the sun? Ah, *THAT* feeds that ego of yours, no doubt! It's not going to happen again. I refuse to be hurt by you one more time. I had wanted to sit with you calmly and civilly. I had wanted to thank you for all the love we shared." Louis' voice wavered. He closed his eyes, trying to regain control. Lestat reached across the table and touched Louis' hand. Louis withdrew as if he had been burned. "Don't, Lestat. Just ...don't." Louis rose from the table. Lestat was on his feet. Louis was leaving *him*, Louis was slipping away. "I left you because I love you. Louis, I could never stop loving you.' The words tumbled from his lips before he could stop them. Louis paused, staring at the floor. "I'm sorry." He said, barely above a whisper. "Good bye, Lestat." Louis walked from the bar, not looking back. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 232: Lestat Nothing, but nothing could hurt as much as this. It was one thing to question, to wonder, to worry. It was yet another to hear the words from Louis' mouth. "You're killing me." Too much pain. *No! I didn't mean it!* God, how could something feel like fire and ice all at once? *Please, just let me make it better!* It was like a molten weight in his stomach, like hardening steel. *I left you because I love you. Louis, I could never stop loving you.* "I left you because I love you. Louis, I could never stop loving you." Wait, he'd said that one aloud. Even so, Louis still walked away. It was a moment before Lestat realized that the stabbing sensation in his palm was because he'd broken his glass. He watched, remotely, as the cuts in his hand healed. Some of them still had bits of glass inside. But that's what Lestat did, wasn't it? He took the painful shards and words and comments and names and hid it inside of him until no one could see how much they hurt. Even Lestat's body knew this. Never mind the pain. Never mind that you couldn't do anything without making it feel worse inside. Just hide it all and keep similing. Everything's fine. "The Hell it is," Lestat snarled. He tore himself away from the table and left the hotel altogether, pounding his energy out on the pavement as he walked. *Nothing is fine. Everything is wrong. Marius hates me. Louis hates me. And the whole damn coven is fawning over a stupid little fledgling who replaces me so easily. *Well, I CANNOT be replaced! There isn't the man or vampire alive who can do what I can. And I'll be damned if I let anyone forget it! Especially Louis!* There was a certain amount of satisfaction to be had from self-indulgent anger. Lestat smiled. He felt *much* better. He even felt good enough to prowl around the movie set a bit. Of course, this meant that he had to put off telling Santino and David what Louis had said, but Lestat told himself that the real reason was that he wanted to see what Tom was doing. *Maybe I'll give him a few tips on how to play me,* Lestat thought. *That is, if he's acting at all. It doesn't look like there's any filming. Perhaps it's a coffee break?* Hoping to catch at least a glimpse of Tom in full vampire makeup, Lestat made his way towards the actors' trailers, scanning each one to find Tom. *No one... no one... Martin.... empty... Brad... no one--wait a moment.* Lestat went back a trailer. *Might as well see what Tom's making all the fuss about.* A gentle scan showed that the mortal actor who would be Louis was fast asleep. *And what does the fly fisherman dream about?* Lestat probed a little deeper and-- "Oh for the love of God!" Lestat snapped. "Why is it that no matter where he is or what form he's in Armand steals into places he doesn't belong? Bad enough he tried to take Louis away from me, now his Spanish wanna-be is after *this* one. Well not if I can help it." Lestat slipped back into Brad's dreams again, and whispered into the mortal's mind. :No, no, mon ami. Don't think of Antonio. Think of Tom. Your Lestat. Your lover. And what a very good lover he can be.: "Yes...." he heard the mortal whisper in his sleep. Lestat pulled out of Brad's mind with a grin. *Tom can consider that a return favor for his well-placed loyalties. As for me, perhaps I should go. Don't want to run into the fledgling monster and kill him before I can fully enjoy it, now do I?* _________________________________________________________________________ Post 233: Tom Tom sat, silent and still, while the world raged around him. He couldn't help himself. Always before he had held himself aloof and apart out of habit - he had better things to do than deal with mindless groupies. Now... he watched them, the eye of the hurricane. There would be no shooting tonight. Chaos was running rampant on the set. He had heard rumors, but nothing definite yet. Everything was on standby. And rather than go ballistic, as the entire set expected, Tom waited with an errie patience which had even his most loyal fans avoiding his presence. The general impression was that he was so deep in character that he might actually attack someone - if he was hungry enough. The rumor amused him. :Lestat, my wonderful friend... the power you've given me just in a single night!: he thought as he continued to watch. :They are terrified. They know. They can sense your presence. And yet, like moths to the flame, they must draw ever closer - facinated in spite of themselves. And imagine,: he mused further, :it could be this way forever.: Finally he tired of the game. Without a word or backward glance he stood and left the set, heading back toward the hotel, and Lestat. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 234: Marius Marius woke several hours later, to the sensation of a still room and an empty bed. It was the later that brought him fully awake, as his hand sought the other side of the bed and found nothing but blankets to impede it's progress. He opened his eyes, taking in the darkened room and the quiet. Silence. No Armand. But he was in the suite somewhere, Marius was certain of it. Marius stretched, slowly, languidly, letting the motion surge along every muscle from the bottoms of his feet to the outflung tips of his fingers, and then relaxing back with a sigh. He raked his fingers through hair that was still damp, where he had lain against the pillows, and a little smile of rememberance touched his lips. He had wanted to relax, to spend an hour or two together, if they could, but had found in himself an irritation that was just as disruptive as Armand's anger. And, in the end, it had been _Armand_ who had distracted _him_ from that anger. The memory of the resulting time brought a little catch to his breath, and a skip in his pulse. But distraction was not a solution, and the idea that the coven still waited, almost certainly in shambles, brought the edge of the anger back. To hell with them, he wanted to scream, to hell with all of them! And he couldn't, of course. They were his family, children, lovers, friends... he couldn't dismiss them so easily. But he was sorely tempted. He rose, drawing on the robe that lay across the end of the bed and belting it loosely. Padding silently on bare feet, he made his way to the next room, where Armand sat, very still, in one of the chairs drawn up to the balcony overlooking the city. Marius went to him, bending over the chair to kiss him gently. He traced the small line between Armand's brow with a light fingertip, hating the anxiety that put the expression there and made his own muscles tense. "What do you see, out there?" he asked quietly, gesturing to the lights of the city beyond. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 235: Armand Armand glanced up at Marius. What to tell him? The reality would surely upset him, destroy all that hard work... Silently, gracefully, Armand rose from his seat and moved to take Marius in his arms. "I see our future, Padrone." he said softly. "I was thinking of that, and what life might be like, were the two of us together, with no interruptions." It was as close to the truth as he dared. Marius laughed shortly. "You were dreaming of ways to kill Lestat, in other words." Armand raised an eyebrow and looked at Marius apprasingly. "I'm not sure I am comfortable with you knowing me that well." "Translated, I'm right." He sighed. "The thought did occur to me that Lestat must be suffering now, yes. I will also admit that the thought did not overly distress me." Marius sighed in return. "The two of you, always locked together in a dance of passion. Be it love or hate, ragazzo, for the two are nearly identical... the two of you are always together." "We shall die together." Armand responded quietly. "I have always known it." "Then may Lestat live a long and healthy life." Marius silenced any further conversation with a tight hug. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 236: Marius Armand drew away after a bit, and Marius let him go. He could feel how disturbed Armand was, in the tightness of his shoulders and the slightly pinched look of his face. Reaching out, he gently smoothed Armand's hair back. "Try not to think of it," he said quietly. "There is nothing you can do tonight." "No," Armand admitted with a small sigh. "But there is always tomorrow night..." His sharp gaze turned to Marius. "What do you think of it?" he asked suddenly. "Of what? That Louis truly means to leave Lestat?" Marius went to the balcony, shutting the doors and drawing the heavy drapes down. Deprived of the glow of the street lamps the room fell into a deep, velvety darkness. Marius turned back to Armand, studying him for a moment. "It is Louis' choice," he said finally, his voice grave. "And perhaps he will find happiness in it. But it will hurt Lestat, it may destroy him. I don't think he will seek to destroy himself- that isn't his way. But it will wound him terribly. No matter what lies he tells, he _does_ love." "Ah," Armand said, a soft exhalation of breath. "And so he hurts. And he will carry that hurt to all of us, if he can." "Perhaps. Lestat does not seem to like suffering alone." Marius smile slightly, the expression dry. "He's a very social creature, when you get down to the heart of it. He has to shine longer and brighter then everyone else, it's just his nature. And if his current role is the tragedy, then he will play it to the hilt, as only he can." Armand shook his head, not replying, and then turned, going back to the bedroom. Marius followed, shutting and securing the door after them. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 237: Louis He had left Lestat standing by the small table in the lounge. Louis didn't look back. He couldn't. Lestat's words echoed in his mind. "I left you because I love you. Louis, I could never stop loving you." Don't stop, don't turn around. Don't give in, he'll only hurt you again. And it will be worse... no one-more-chance, don't believe him. Louis made it into the street. He stopped, took a deep breath and started walking. How many times had he walked all night? When had he started this habit of walking while trying to pull himself together? While he was mortal, after Paul had died. Later, after Lestat had brought him over, he tried to walk away the hunger, the guilt, the pain. Here he was, still walking, still in pain. A drunkard stumbled across Louis' path. Without a second thought, Louis pulled him into the shadows and swiftly, mercilessly, took him. The warmth and life poured into Louis with the blood. He dropped the empty shell, now bloodlessly cold and waxen, to the ground and slumped against a car until the swoon passed. ::It will pass, the pain, the longing:: Louis thought to himself. ::Everything will pass if we wait long enough:: He disposed of the kill as discreetly as ever, and started back to the hotel. He took the back stairs. Louis did not want to be disturbed. As Louis walked toward his suite, his senses detected Antonio's presence. But this time, it wasn't accompanied by the usual warmth. There was so much pain. Quietly, he went up to Antonio's bedroom door. He didn't have to scan to pick up the soft sound of weeping. "Antonio?" Louis called through the door. "Are you alright?" Antonio, still trembling violently, raised himself slightly. Louis didn't wait for a reply, he opened the door and moved towards the figure on the bed. He knelt next to him, touching Antonio's damp hair with a gentle hand. "Louis... I... I'm sorry." Antonio choked out the words. "I'll stay with you." Louis whispered, leaning on the bed, bringing his face close to Antonio's. "You don't have to speak, you don't have to apologise. I'll be with you." Antonio nodded. Slowly, Louis crept onto the bed and drew Antonio into his arms. He continued to stroke Antonio's hair, and speak tender, comforting words to him. "I almost killed him tonight." Antonio wept. "I wanted to be with him, I wanted to show him I still cared as much as when I was mortal." He lifted his crimson streaked face to Louis'. Louis kissed his eyelids and forehead. "Brad... I can smell his blood on you..." "Oh, *God!*" sobbed Antonio. "I wanted to take him... I wanted all of him..." Holding him tightly, Louis tried to comfort him. "But you didn't. You fought back with all you had, you left him..." Antonio sought Louis' eyes. "But the next time..." Louis met his gaze. "Antonio, will there be a next time? And if there is, will you be resolute? Or will you weaken? You must answer these questions in your own heart." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 237.5: Antonio Louis' quiet question sent a spike into Antonio's heart. "There cannot be a next time." he whispered. "There *cannot* be." He drew a shuddering breath. "Is it really this way, Louis? Must we abandon all we knew, or loved, to live this life?" The moment he spoke the words he regretted them. The pain in Louis' eyes drove into his already troubled spirit. "It has been that way for me." Louis answered at last. "There is no love, or light. Only darkness and pain. And so it has been for centuries." Antonio felt as though he had been kicked in the chest. "Armand... that first night. He said... he told me "Welcome to your death." His expression was so mournful - I thought it was because of his own problems." He groaned and looked away. "Louis, the world is spinning. I can focus on nothing." "Then focus on me." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 238: Pandora "Let me see you walk!" Pandora did as she was told, walking accross the room and then, stopping face to face with Daniel. "Not bad at all," Daniel said. "I think you have a chance...Yup, a pretty good chance!" "What's this all about, Daniel?" "Ah, you will see! Let's go to the set. I'll explain you on the way!" Pandora stamped her foot in irritation "I will not budge a single inch until YOU tell me what it is that you are talking about! If I thought it was worth the effort I would pry it from your young brain!" "Nope, no way, there is no way on earth you can get me to tell. But read my surface thoughts, am I not just emanating fun loving, adventurous thoughts? I mean would you really rather stay cooped up in here?" Daniel was once again showing off the people handling skills he had learned as a reporter. Pandora wasn't fooled, but she fell for it anyway. "All right youngster, you talked me into it. You're just lucky that I'm feeling adventurous instead of irritable, or I would have fried your hair off." she smiled to take the sting from her words. "But first, you might want to put on some clothing that's a little less... bloodstained..." She raised an eyebrow at him as he looked up at her, stunned by the condition of his clothing. "Wow, I look like a slaughterhouse!" "Mmmmf" she giggled and sent him off to change. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 239: Daniel Pandora asked Daniel to change his clothes before she would accompany him anywhere. He was still wearing the dirty clothes from the night before, blood stained and dirty. "Wow, I look like a slaughterhouse!" Daniel said when he took a look at himself. He then, walked towards the bathroom and took a quick shower. Pandora waiting in the room until Daniel showed up---wet hair, a towel wrapped around his waist. "What are you waiting for?" She asked impatiently. "Pan, there's a little problem..." "Yes?" "Well, I just dropped by last night to see Jesse and Gabrielle...I followed them here, and I wasn't thinking about getting my clothes dirty, so...I don't have any clean clothes!" Pandora rolled her eyes. "That's not big deal. This *is* Lestat's penthouse, isn't it?" "Are you suggesting that I borrow Lestat's clothes?" Daniel asked. "Why not? He won't mind...it's only for the night. Besides, they are mostly stolen!" Daniel walked towards the main bedroom, the one that Lestat used when he stayed in the house. Pandora followed him. "So what do we have here," Pandora opened the closet and began picking out some of Lestat's finest silk shirts. "All silk and leather...I DON'T THINK SO!" Daniel protested. "It'll make you look 'tres chic', give you more personality!" "Do you really think so?" "But of course! Now, listen to a woman. We know what guys look good in." Daniel let Pandora pick his outfit and minutes later he was dressed to kill in sinfully tight leather pants and royal blue silk shirt, a pair of boots for the final touch. He watched his reflection in the mirror and frowned. "This is not me!" "It's not bad, so stop complaining...would you prefer borrowing one of Gabrielle's dresses?" "I think not!" "I didn't think so either. As soon as we find something you like, we'll take it and get a snack at the same time. Ready?" She started towards the door and gestured for Daniel to follow her. "Just one second!" Daniel called. "What is it now?" "Sunglasses! We'll need them...I'm sure Lestat has a pair or two somewhere....See! I knew it!" He said, taking a pair of shades of purple glass. "Sorry, nothing for you!" He smiled at Pandora. "Let's go!" She pulled him out the door. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 240: Jesse Jesse seen Antonio and Brad go to the trailer. ::Oh, that's just *great*. Now, Gabby's fledgling's after him:: Jesse sighed. ::I haven't a hope in hell with Brad if 'Gorgeous Tonio' has an interest in him... unless... Tonio means to have dine! He wouldn't dare!:: She followed them in the shadows and crawled underneath the the trailer after they went in. She scanned. ::Oh, well. They're only working on lines." Jesse yawned. She listened to the voices above her as her eyes began to close. It was fun listening to Antonio read his lines. The reading stopped and the voices took on a tinge of intensity. She heard Antonio's resonant voice say "It's still me..." Jesse's eyes flew open. Those kisses could have registered on the Richter Scale. She crawled out from under the trailer and sat behind a tree. ::One thing's for certain, they've rehearsed *that* before:: Jesse sighed.