RPG SPEC: Dagger of the Mind Sequel to "Hollywood Vampires" Parts 51-53, Posts 501-530 _________________________________________________________________________ Post 501: Armand Game, set and match. Defeated again. When would he ever learn? Perhaps never. Perhaps this was the final test, and he had failed yet again. Or had he? Armand watched Lestat's tears fall, the infamous tears which seemed to well from a bottomless font. And the thought suddenly occured to him, as emotions raged all around him. What would he do if there was no fear, no pain? How would he choose to comfort one who called him brother, and wept before him? Since it had never happened to him before, it took a moment for all of this to make some sort of sense to him. "Do I think you a monster?" he asked Lestat softly. "How can I answer that? How can I know what to think? You spoke to me before in such hatred... you speak to me now in... " He could not force the word past his lips, the word he wanted so desperately to utter. In desperation he turned back to one of his oldest games, one that had seen him through many trials in the past. *What would Marius do?* he thought to himself. But at once Armand rejected the game, thinking of the silent figure waiting below, surely in agony. The one who would draw the viper standing before him to his arms as a son. "To hell with this." he thought to himself suddenly. "To hell with Marius. What are *you* going to do? What do you *want* to do? And do you have the courage, for once in your accursed life, to do it?" Lestat still wept before him, head bowed, hair partially shielding his features. "Give me a reason, you son of a bitch," Armand thought, even as his hand moved. "Give me a reason and I will blow you away. I will destroy us *both* with a single thought. Give me a reason..." And yet his fingers were gentle as he pushed the hair back from Lestat's face, and began stroking the tears from his cheeks. "I don't think you a monster." he said aloud, keeping his voice as gentle as his touch. "I thought *you* thought that of me." And then Armand steeled himself, preparing, gathering the strength to him. For he knew with absolute certainty what would happen next. He knew that Lestat would slowly look up, the mocking smile dancing on his lips, in his eyes. He would say something spiteful, cutting, triumphant for having once again breeched Armand's barriers. And in return, Armand would destroy him. His heart knew it. His body and mind knew it. And yet he continued to stroke Lestat's face gently, his *soul* praying to every god he had ever heard of... for one final chance. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 502: Lestat Lestat started just a little when he felt Armand's touch, ready for just about anything. Then he looked up, slowly, as he felt the gentle caress. "You?" he asked, meeting the brown eyes somewhat incredulously. "A monster?" He shook his head, still meeting his eyes. "Never. I... we have had our fights and our differences, Armand, but I have always, *always* thought of you as..." A small frown appeard on Lestat's face. Just what *was* the opposite of a monster? Human? No, that sounded too condescending and this moment, this vampire, meant too much for Lestat to even chance such a thing. His mind worked furiously, trying to come up with the word that would capture, truly capture, how he had always thought of Armand. A slow, tentative smile spread across his lips as the word finally came to him. Armand's gaze flickered over him uncertainly. "What?" Lestat turned, facing Armand now. He reached up to touch the hand at his cheek. "An angel. *My* angel." His smile became softer still. "My brother." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 503: Tom and Antonio The fog shrouded Mississippi river continued to lap quietly at her banks as the heavy mist obscured the night sky. All around Tom the air was laden with the unfamiliar scents of the south - damp wood, the river, something unique perhaps from the very soil itself. Fog horns sent out a mournful cry, echoing like ghosts across the water. It was the perfect setting for a gothic horror novel. Or a romance novel. Or a really good cry. Only problem was that Tom couldn't make up his mind between them. He found a concrete picnic table and, ignoring the chill of the stone, lay back across the top, flinging his arm over his eyes. "Depressed vampire in love - film at 11:00." he groaned. "Just how many genres can I combine in this thing?" "You are not dead yet, my friend." Tom flipped over, startled but not really surprised as he watched Antonios form take shape in the darkness. "No, I'm not. And I'm beginning to wonder why." "Perhaps because your lover has asked that you remain mortal. Or perhaps because at the moment Armand is with Lestat, trying to decide which one of them leaves the room alive." Antonio shook his head. "Not a very positive environment to create a new fledgling." Tom gasped and sat up. "Armand is going to kill Lestat?" Antonio held up his hand, moving to sit next to Tom. "Or himself." As it seemed Tom would leap to his feet, Antonio reached out to lightly touch his arm. "Peace, amigo. If I truly believed that, do you think I would be here now?" Tom looked at him uncertainly, heart pounding. "If not that, then what?" "They will come to terms, or stomp out in a huff again. Either way, no serious physical harm will come of it. Marius waits below to make sure." "And Louis? Where is he in all of this?" "Waiting for Lestat. Becoming rather impatient about it as well." Tom slowly nodded. "Alright then. To the big question, then. Where is Brad?" Antonio grinned without humor. "I left just in time, it seems. He's being dragged about by Pandora. David is trying to help, but it seems Pandora has her mind fixed on a single image and will not be denied." "She burst in on us like a whirlwind." Tom said softly, with regret. "Just when Brad and I were really starting to talk." Shrugging, Antonio looked away. "Some of them have forgotten what it is like to be mortal. She is very old." "And powerful. It only occured to me afterwards that she could have killed me with a thought, should she wish it." Antonio looked over at him, a suddenly feral gleam in his eyes. "Tom..." his voice was soft, compelling. "Look at me." Tom did as he was asked, and suddenly found himself unable to breathe... or move... or think. All he could do was sit and watch helplessly as Antonio approached. As the pale, cold fingers slid around his throat Tom shivered, just a little, but could no more move than force the sun to rise at that moment. Antonio tilted Tom's head back slowly, gently, exposing his throat, closing the distance between them with a liquid move that Tom could not follow. All he was sure of was the feel of Antonio's lips against his skin, and the rapid pounding of his own heart as the vampire bent to drink. He closed his eyes, waiting for the pain of fangs piercing his skin. The pain never came. Gasping, Tom fell forward, his hands meeting with the icy concrete of the bench. Antonio sat a few feet away, watching him. When he could gather his thoughts Tom shot him a murderous glance. "Why the *hell* did you do that?" "To show you I could." Antonio waved off further protests with a gesture. "Yes, to frighten you, just a little. To remind you again what the weakest of of the coven is capable of." His eyes sparkeled a little. "And to demonstrate just what you might become. The dark, and the light... together in one." Tom was still shivering in reaction, and perfectly furious. But Antonio's words made sense to him. He continued listening as he fought to calm himself. "Pandora could have willed you dead, true." Antonio continued. "But then again, so could we all. Pandora would not kill you. Why? Because it would upset Brad, which would upset me, which would upset Gabrielle and Lestat, which would upset Marius. Or... follow the chain back to me, which would upset Armand which would upset Marius. And *Marius*, my friend, could kick Pandora's butt to the moon, if he so desired. And in any case, to take you would be to take Lestat's pet, and bring about exposure to the coven. Either way, she can not act without there being severe consequences. So don't worry yourself overmuch about her." Antonio's words, and the implications behind them, finally sank in. "So I'm part of the coven already." "For the moment, yes." Antonio sighed. "Once more, the so-called Curse of Lestat raises it's head. It seems all who become involved with him, on any level, never recover. For the ones who sought to bring his story to the world, it is the same." "You consider this a curse, then?" "And a blessing. Above all, it is madness." The soft sound of Antonio's accented voice seemed to blend with the night air, become part of it, dancing around Tom. "I want to find Brad." he finally said, voice just as soft. "I'd like to talk to him." Antonio smiled, the expression unexpectedly gently. "You need a hug." Tom thought to deny it, then simply shrugged and smiled back. Antonio stood and gathered him into his arms. "Come on. We'll find them." "You can fly?" Tom asked, the answer coming readily enough as they lifted into the sky." "I can fly." Antonio confirmed. "I am Gabrielle's first child, and stronger than most fledglings. There is much I cannot do, but I *can* fly." He grinned suddenly. "For short distances." They continued into the city, searching for Brad. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 504: Armand A sense of perfect stillness held the room. Armand felt as though if he moved, if he even breathed, the moment would shatter, and he would wake and find it all a dream. Then he smiled slightlly, chancing another caress. "If I am an angel my dark brother, then you are a dream." He watched the emotions flicker across Lestat's face as he tried to decipher this, determine if it was positive or negative and the possible ramifications of such a simple statement. It was enough. "I think I should go, before one of us does something... we'll regret." He smiled again, the first genuine smile of the evening. "The pressure is enormous to do something foolish, just to live up to previous standards." He backed away a little, still watching Lestat. "Besides, Marius waits below, to see which one of us is carried out on his shield. You'll... " he hesitated, not entirely sure how to ask. "You'll be all right?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 505: Lestat "Alright?" Lestat whispered, not sure if he knew what the word meant. He shook his head, then nodded, his thoughts slowly coming back to him in small trickles. "Yes. Or I think so." He shrugged. "I don't know if I will be able to say the same in an hour, but for now, yes." Something flickered in Armand's eyes. Lestat didn't dare hope it was protectiveness or, even more frightening, love. "Are you sure?" Lestat gave another shrug. "As sure as I will ever be. Go. Before Marius comes crashing in here or the world ends. Right now I expect either. Best not to chance our luck much longer." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 506: Marius It was one of the hardest things he had ever done, to sit in the courtyard, surrounded by the trickling splash of the fountain and the soft voices of those who sat around him. The noises might not have existed. The very courtyard and the hotel around it might have been nothing but open air, for all it mattered to him. His entire being and the focus of every thought was centered upon the one half of the conversation that he could hear between Lestat and Armand. His sons. And was there any greater sin a father could commit then to idylly sit back and watch as his children attempted to kill each other? There wasn't anything else he could do, Marius' mind acknowledged that, but his soul ached inside with each passing second since Armand had vanished behind the metal doors of the elevator. Small flickers from upstairs. Pain, sadness, hope. And possible, just possible, love. *Please, Gods,* Marius' mind whispered to itself, and some deep, desperate portion of his fluttering heart called upon the names of gods from his childhood and entreated them in languages that had not actually passed his lips in centuries. *Please let it be possible....* _________________________________________________________________________ Post 507: Gabrielle From a restless sleep she rose, knowing that no lover graced her side, no child that needed her help, no one. Just alone as she had always been. She tried to remember back when she had gazed upon the yellowed, torn pages of forever for the first time. She stilled, knowing that all she could remember was the twinkling azure eyes, all so like her own, that bathed her in an all-adoring, all-loving light. She felt the tears well in her eyes, she had been so wrong. So wrong to push Lestat away, so wrong to leave him once again. Her words to him, stung in her heart like none other. She couldn't remember a time when she hated him so, or loved him so much. Silently, she wondered if they could or would ever share that love once more once this was settled. "As settled as the dust upon the book of eternity." she whisperd aloud. She scanned the hotel for minds of the immortals. The search found faint glimmers of Armand, but that was all. On the other hand, Marius she found quite easily. HIs dispair, matched with her own was enough to bring a fresh batch of tears to her eyes. She couldn't help but think that she had cried more in the past weeks than in her entire immortal life. Hastily, the tears were brushed away and a fresh set of clothes were climbed into. Sighing, she left the sweet calm of the room, wishing that Antonio was at her side for support. Slowly, she came upon the courtyard and Marius. Marius sat dejected, eyes cast down, never even noticing Gabrielle's presence. She stood before him and spoke softly, "Need a shoulder to cry on, cher? Or maybe we could take turns. I'd rather not be alone, and I hardly think you want to be either." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 508: Marius The soft voice impinged on him first, blind and oblivious as he was to all around him. Startled, he looked up, meeting Gabrielle's clear gaze, now tinged by the same sadness that wavered in her voice. Marius forced a sliver of a smile over his face, a ghost that quickly faded and died. He gestured to the chair beside him, watching as Gabrielle dropped gracefully into it. His voice was low, rough with supressed emotion, and he could not stop his hands from curling around the wrought iron arms of the chair in a tight grip. "Do you know that your son and mine are up there right now, deciding who shall walk out alive?" Gabrielle shuddered a little, casting a quick glance up towards Lestat's suite, and Marius immediately regretted the sharpness of the words. He reached out a hesitant hand and was surprised and gratified when Gabrielle allowed him to take her own. He could not be sure if it was her slender fingers that trembled in his own, or his hand which shook. "It will be all right," he whispered softly. "They have done each other no harm so far. It will be all right..." The mantra he had prayed for the endless eternity of his vigil in the courtyard, given breath and sound now in an attempt to comfort. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 509: Armand Armand took another step toward the door, then shook his head, stopping. "I don't want to leave." Lestat glanced at him, many emotions flashing over his expression at once. "Why?" "Because if I do, it will be too easy to say it was a dream. That..." his voice dropped into a soft whisper "you are the very dream I've thought of you as for so long." He almost stopped there, but forced himself to continue, one last admission among so many. "And I'm worried about you." he blurted before he could stop himself. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 510: Gabrielle Warm, slight comfort flowed from Marius' hand to her own. She shivered as she looked up to the room Marius had pointed out, even though the nightime air was anything but cold. The worry eminating from Marius was so strong he couldn't contain it, she felt this. She squeezed his hand tightly and gave him a slight smile. Out of all that she knew, it was he who possibly understood what she felt at this moment the best. Lestat was her son, Armand a friend in whose mind she's been, who had taken her to hell and back. She wanted it all to end, to embrace her son, to wrap her arms about Armand. A tear slipped from her eye, she hurridly wiped it away so that Marius could not see her crumbling. She who was to be so strong, crumbling. She turned to Marius and looked him clear in the eye. "It must end, I cannot take another minute of this. I want my son back...just as you want yours." "We may not ever get either back." Marius said softly, his voice tinged with sorrow. Gabrielle looked up to the lighted window and again squeezed Marius' hand, not sure whether it was to comfort him or herself. "No." she breathed, confidently, "Neither one shall we lose, my dear friend. That I cannot accept." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 511: Marius "Nor can I." Marius took a deep breath, struggling to hold onto the outward calm when his heart and mind were screaming in agony over every fraction of a second. Again he tried to force a smile, managing only a slight twitch of lips that felt as though they were frozen so stiff that it took effort to push the words past them. His voice dropped another fraction, a barely breathed whisper of admitted weakness. "I can not take this any longer either, and it is for that that they would now speak to one another... Amadeo swore it was to make peace, but the anger he bears towards Lestat is nearly a physical thing that he carries with him." He took another breath, pushing a slightly more effective smile onto his face and returning the squeeze of their joined hands. "Still, if neither has struck yet, perhaps they will not. Lestat is... almost hopeful, I would say." He glanced sidelong at Gabrielle, silently asking to know of anything she could tell him in return. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 512: Lestat Lestat blinked in surprise, looking down a bit, then, surprising himself even more, back up at Armand with a tender smile. "Thank you." "For what?" "All of it. It's not everyone who says such things to me." With an impulsive confidence, Lestat quickly closed the distance between them and reached out to place a kiss on Armand's cheek, his confidence draining from him as he came closer until it was the barest touch on Armand's skin. He felt Armand start under him and stepped away, once again feeling sick with nerves. He forced himself to look up and meet those brown eyes. "Go, my brother. If you worry, I'll be..." his confidence faded even more. Armand was instantly attentive. "What is it?" "Louis," Lestat sighed. "I'm to go to him tonight. And I don't know if...." he couldn't finish. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 513: Armand "I'm sorry." Armand said quietly, looking away. "I never intended to stand between you and he." The kiss was so overwhelming that he could not even think on it, much less comment on it. It had to be filed away for another time, when he could think rather than react. "I'll go." "But..." Lestat blurted out, trailing off as Armand turned back. "You'll be back? We can speak again later?" Armand was suddenly reminded of a line he had once heard. "A beginning is a very delicate time." he whispered. Only slightly louder he said "Yes. I'll return. And we can continue from there." During the long years spent alone, he had had time to strengthen the empathic mode of speech given with the Dark Gift. There had been a time when it was his preferred meathod of communication. Hesitantly he reached for it, calling the emotions into a single burst, filtering them, then sending them to Lestat in a pusing wave. :::: He looked long and deep into the crystal blue eyes for another second, then left before he lost his will completely. Stunned, he moved back downstairs, finding Marius almost by feel, nearly stumbling into his arms. Marius was on his feet in a heartbeat, gathering Armand to him. "Caro, what happened?" he demanded softly, tension radiating from him. Armand could only shake his head. "I don't believe it. I just don't believe it." Marius gave him a small shake. "*What*?" Finally he looked up, gazing into the blue eyes so very similar to those he had just left. "He loves me." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 514: Marius Every single thought of Gabrielle had vanished the moment he had glimpsed Armand's figure in the doorway of the courtyard. Heaven itself to scoop him up into his arms, hold him tight, reassure himself by touch that this was a breathing figure before him, unharmed and whole. To know at a passing touch of mind upon mind that Lestat was also whole, unhurt. A miracle that took every grain of pain from the long wait and crystallized it in that one moment into unparalleled relief. And those words... Marius could have wept tears of joy. He *was* weeping, the tears stinging his eyes, blinking them back furiously. Those three simple words of truth spoken in a stunned voice, an acknowledgement of the truth and a banishment of the anger: "He loves me." And in a sudden great burst of indecorous joy he swept Armand up, clear off of his feet, holding him so tightly it nearly hurt. "Of course he does," he whispered, his voice breaking. "Gods, caro, gods... of course he does!" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 515: Armand Armand was off the ground and didn't care one bit. The overwhelming relief, the stunned joy in Marius' voice was almost a drug to his overwhelmed senses. The tears only added to it. "Of course?" he managed, brushing at his eyes. "I'm glad it's so obvious to you, padrone. It takes some of us longer, obviously... but... my God..." He held Marius a moment longer, then moved so that he was again on the ground. He needed a moment of space, to compose himself, to try to rearrange his badly jarred nerves. He turned away, just a little, and nearly jumped back a full foot. No... it was *not* Lestat sitting there, watching with amusement threatening to mock. Close... in horror Armand saw Gabrielle's smile widen as he clamped down on every emotion, putting them far away even as he cursed himself for 1,000 kinds of fool to allow such a display in public. "Gabrielle." he said quietly. "Good of you to keep Marius company." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 516: Daniel "Pandora!" Daniel bellowed, "What the hell are you doing here!?" "Nothing!" David answered for her while still holding Brad in his arms. "Just passing through on our way back home, isn't that right Pandora?" "Not in the least David." Pandora corrected. "We're not going back to that dreary place right now. Come you two." She said pointing to Jesse and Daniel. "We need to find Brad and David the proper attire and then we're going to hit the clubs!" "What!" Daniel screamed at her. "You interrupt us so we could act as fashion consultants for the mega superstar and Mr. Tweed!" "And to go dancing." Pandora added. "Of course! And to go dancing!" Daniel was furious. "Calm down." Jesse whispered to him, "She means no harm...it wouldn't hurt us to--" "What! You don't mind her? It doesn't bother you that she throws herself into everybody else business? Tell me Pandora, how does Little Miss Comatose manage to wake up one night and whirl into our lives? Is it that you don't know how to live your own life that you take control of ours?" "Daniel!" Jesse yelled "Don't talk to her that way! What is your problem?! She's given us a place to live--" "How convenient for her!" Daniel replied. "That's enough Daniel!" David now spoke "We'll be leaving, it was a mistake to come here." Brad just blinked amist the chaos, what could he possible say? He was god-knows-high-up in the air with only a couple of aggitated vampires between him and splattering all over the earth. He gripped tighter to David's neck. "Pandora, lets go!" "Perhaps it's for the better." said Pandora. "After all, he's from Marius' lineage combined with the blood of the imp, he's bound to be uptight!" She looked Daniel up and down. "You were much more interesting in the book." Daniel laughed "Ha! and you my dear, were just how we liked you! A little statuette in the living room. My personal favorite thing to do was watch the cleaning lady dust you!" "Oh how perfectly you!" she rebuttled. "Rather watch the cleaning crew then actually do anything. I had over a millennia to be weary of, what was your excuse?" "Pandora, lets go!" David insisted. "What could I *possibly* be weary of!" said Daniel. "Oh, I dunno... maybe the twelve years I lived in a drunken haze from one night to the next. Or maybe it was to one night wake up and find that my lover had abandoned me. Or maybe, just *maybe* it was that breath of freedom that I had for all of one second before all of *you* came at me with chains to shakle be to that damn house!" "That isn't true Daniel!" Jesse pleaded. "What the hell is wrong with you!" "Nothing! Everything! No, it's not true, yet it is!" "Your making no sense." said David. "No, I suppose I'm not! Forgive me, it's still one big drunken haze for me. Jesse, don't mix yourself up with me. Don't you know, I'm Peter 'Fucking' Pan?! "I have to leave, I can't stand being here one second more! Jesse, I love you, but you're better off without me." Daniel dove into the clouds and out of sight. Jesse was about to make persuit of him when David called to her. ::Jesse, let him go, he'll be back. He need's time to sort things through.:: _________________________________________________________________________ Post 517: Gabrielle So horrifed she was to feel Armand cut himself off from her. Atears of joy slipped down her ivory cheek without warning, and she met his eyes an smiled. She let her wall down, as a gesture of peace. :Of course he loves you cher, he always has you know.: Armand's eyes widened, :I never did know.: She sighed, her eyes drifting to that of Lestat's suite above. "How could you?" she said softly aloud, "He never did show you....until now." She winced, knowing that Armand was still slightly afraid of her presence. :My Lord, Armand! After all we've gone through, after being in your mind, moi almost burnt in that horrendous fire....all of it! You still cannot trust me? I would forgive you almost anything, I love you and always will. Remember that, mon cher.: She rose, slapping her knees gently, "I see you two will probably need some time alone...just one thing..." She turned to Armand before she would will herself to go, "Did he mention me....is there anything I can ever do to make this up to him?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 518: Armand "It's got to be age." Armand thought somewhere in the corner of his mind. "I used to be able to switch gears much faster than this." He still felt the emotional impact of the scene from Lestat's suite. That Gabrielle now stood before him, also claiming to love him, was nearly more than he could take. He backed up just a fraction, feeling the comfortingly solid presence of Marius. "For him... get a grip for him if no one else." he snapped to himself. Aloud he said softly. "No, Gabrielle. Lestat did not mention you. But that is hardly surprising. I burst in on him, knowing I had won our war. Knowing that his dreams... his life, was now by my grace." The admission cost him nothing in light of recent events. It was more important that she understand. "And in return he called me brother." He shook his head slightly. "We did not give each other time to do much more than that. He is to meet with Louis, and I had to return to Marius." He glanced back slightly, directing his next words more toward Marius than Gabrielle. "We were both worried about you, and agreed to meet later, once you and I had spoken." he turned back to Gabrielle. "But now that I am here, I find that I... have much to think on. I would ask that you not leave simply to allow Marius and I time alone. I fear I will be poor company tonight for him." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 519: Jesse Jesse was about to make persuit of Daniel, when David called to her. ::Jesse, let him go, he'll be back. He need's time to sort things through.:: She looked back at David, hands clenched into fists at her sides. "Sort things through? SORT THINGS THROUGH? God! David! Who died and put you in charge of giving out advice?" She choked on the words. "Who the Hell do you thing you are? Superior General of the Coven? We don't even have a Superior Major or a Superior Lieutenant or a Superior Private... we're just semi-dead, that's all..." Jesse turned her back to the little group, furiously trying to rub the tears from her eyes. "Jesse, Honey...." Pandora began, moving up behind her. "He's just thowing a little hissyfit, that's all. He'll be back looking for you as soon as he wants a little more..." Spinning around, Jesse took handful of Pandora's hair and yanked it hard. "OH! Is that all you think I am to him? Someone to fill in the blanks til Armand gets his ass in gear?" Jesse's green eyes were incandescent with rage. "And what gave you the right to barge in on us? Tell me that, *Sweetie*!" Pandora gave Jesse a shove. "*EXCUSE ME* for trying to cheer up the resident mortal! If you and Dear Daniel weren't so busy *discovering* each other, perhaps you would have paid a little attention to this charming child!" Hovering quietly, arms wrapped around herself, Jesse turned her sad eyes to Brad. "You must forgive me, Brad. I... I thought you wanted some privacy." She sniffed and wiped a ruby-tinged crystalline tear drop from her cheek. Pandora placed a hand on Jesse shoulder. "That's all right, Sweetie. If there's one thing I know, it's how a man's mind work. I have *much* more experience that you have in that department." "You don't say..." Sniffled Jesse, searching for a tissue or hankie in the pocketless gown. "Damn these blood tears! David! For Chrissake give me your handkerchief!" She gasped as she saw the expression of terror on Brad's face as David let go of him with one arm... "GOD! NO!" She cried. "On second thought.... Never mind! Haven't you ever seen a girl cry before?" Pandora took a dainty hankie from her ample cleavage and waved it under Jesse's nose. "Oh... here!" Jesse took the hankie and blew her nose. "Now!" Pandora continued, "As I was saying, before Daniel blew a fuse, I need to find proper attire for Brad and Mr. Tweeds... I mean, David," she gave David a slow, knowing wink, "So that we may go dancing. Gods only know that you need a good time after this, Jesse. Honestly, didn't Maharet teach you ANYTHING about the vampiric male?" Before Jesse could answer, Pandora had a firm hold of her arm and dragged her earthward. David glanced at Brad, shrugged, and followed. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 520: Marius Marius reached out to gently brush his hand across Armand's back, offering silent support. "You are never poor company, ragazzo," he whispered quietly, still feeling the trembling and tears of relief hovering on the verge of being released within him. Just to stand there for the rest of the night, holding him, would have been more than enough at that point. But Gabrielle was still standing before them hesitantly and Marius forced his attention back to her. "Please," he said, voice once again steady and the essence of friendly politeness. "You don't need to leave, Gabrielle." He smiled again, a wholehearted expression utterly unlike the strained ones of before, making a small gesture as though to usher her back to her seat. "Stay with us." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 521: Lestat Once again Lestat felt the world tilt underneath him. But he allowed himself only one luxurious moment of rest before stumbling out into the hall. "I've got to talk with Louis," he said, surprising a mortal woman standing in front of him. He graced her with his best Lestat smile, got himself together, and hurried on. The fact that he and Louis had scheduled to meet had completely left his mind. All he knew was that this... this *thing* had happened. Armand had actually said and done all of it and there was no one on Earth that Lestat craved to talk about this other than Louis. He paused when he reached the elevator, quickly scanning downstairs to find Marius and Armand below. A small, sick shudder ran through him. No. He couldn't see them again. Not just yet. He quickly changed direction and headed for the stairs, slipping out a side door and then moving through the night as a blur, homing in on the thought of keenly perceptive green eyes and a softly accented voice. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 522: Daniel Descending to the Earth and accelerating in spead, Daniel thought of crashing into it and ending it all. If he gained enough speed, the crash should scatter his parts far enough away from each other to keep his body from reforming, or at least maim him to the point where he couldn't escape the dawn when it came. He slowed down and stopped. When had he become like this? When had he stopped being the idealistic reporter with big dreams and a lust for life? Was it the day he met Armand? The day he became a vampire? No, surely not then, for it was on these days that he had felt most alive. The urge and longing for immortality was his only wish. So strongly he felt this that he welcomed death if he could not have it. And now he had it, and he welcomed death again. Then, as clearly as he heard it long ago on that fateful day in San Francisco, he heard it again. His own voice ringing out to his own astonishment "It didn't have to end, not like this, not in despair! Because that is what this is, isn't it? Despair!" Ah that face, that beautiful face of Louis de Pointe du Lac who only looked back with disappointment and sadness *Didn't I tell you it could end no other way?* "I don't accept it!" He screemed into the night, "I can't! I did something wrong, I was lead down the wrong path, I listen to the wrong advice, but it cannot end this way!" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 523: Louis The quietude of the old house surrounded him. Even though the minutes ticked slowly by, Louis drew comfort from the familiar rooms. As he waited for Lestat, Louis walked through the each of the rooms, touching an object here and there - his desk; a beloved book, a favorite page marked by a songbird's feather; Lestat's umbrella, an oversized thing with the wooden handle carved into the head of a dog. As he was about to emerge from the front parlour, the sound of a door opening caught his attention. Lestat! In two steps, Louis was in the hall to greet him. The familiar figure that met him took him aback. Lestat stood in the doorway, hair tousled, his face streaked with blood tears. He attempted a smile and offered his hand to Louis. "Mon Dieu, Lestat!" Louis whispered, as he clasped Lestat's hand with both his own. "You're trembling! What has happened?" "Oh, Louis... I was afraid you would no longer be here..." Lestat closed his eyes and swallowed. "I waited... of course I waited." Louis studied the face before him. He could hardly recall seeing Lestat in such a condition, in spite of all they had been through together. "I think I need to sit down..." Lestat muttered. He nearly staggered into the parlour and collapsed on the sofa. Louis followed, sitting beside him, taking in his appearance with a concerned expression. After allowing Lestat a few minutes to compose himself, Louis touched his hand. "Are you able to talk? Do you wish to tell me what has happened to put you in such a condition?" He softly asked his companion. Lestat heaved a sigh that encompassed his entire frame. "Mon Cher... what has happened tonight had it's beginnings in the epoch of Les Innocents... and has carried through..." A wave of horror flowed through Louis. He gasped. "What have you done to Armand?" Lestat was reclined nearly motionless against the back of the couch. "I have called him my brother....and he knows that I love him." Louis seized his hand. The very idea of Lestat and Armand under the same roof was enough to frighten the marble saints in the cathedral. "This is a ... revelation." He breathed. "What did Armand say?" Raising himself into a sitting position, Lestat rubbed the fresh tears from his eyes and pushed back his hair with both his hands. "He called me his 'dark brother'... and I felt such love from him, Louis... such genuine warmth and love..." Lestat's voice faltered. As he hunched forward, Louis caught him in his arms. "Do you know what this means, Louis? Do you know?" Lestat sobbed on Louis' shoulder, burying his face in the mass of black hair. "It's as if a curse... a curse has been lifted! Marius *is* my true father... and Armand is my brother..." Choking back the the torrent of emotions, Lestat lifted his face to Louis. "It's as if I've been freed of this darkness... it's as if I'm standing in the sunlight again!" Lestat took a long shuddering breath. He closed his eyes, vainly attempting to squeeze back tears. There were no words that could reply to that. Louis bent forward, kissed Lestat's eyelids and enfolded him in his arms. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 524: Brad Brad stared in wonder at the starry nighttime sky. They had ascended so quickly he hadn't had the chance to be afraid. The city below him was marked by patches of mist. The spots of whiteness obscuring the stately homes made the ground seem like a unfinished jigsaw puzzle. David held him in a grip of unnatural strength as they hurtled into the night sky, hot on Pandora's trail. He thought perhaps he should be afraid. What if David dropped him? What if a plane saw them whizzing through the sky, or worse yet a police helicopter seeking to identify a strange blip on their radar... Brad laughed aloud, letting the rushing air fill his mouth and puff out his cheeks like balloons. He could *taste* the air. How could he worry about falling or being seen, when he was *flying*. This is the way he'd felt when, as a child, he'd taken that first diving leap off the high board and was flying, flying, flying into the waiting arms of the water below. Only now there was no end to it, no shock of being suddenly rejoined to the earth and things that had to swim or walk. This way he could fly forever. Forever. He could fly forever - if he gave in, and said yes. "No," Brad whispered to the rushing air. "Not even for this..." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 525: Antonio and Tom ::Not even for this, amigo? Are you sure?:: Antonio laughed softly as he watched Brad spin around, seeking out the source of the voice within his mind. ::Up:: Still smiling, he met Brad's eyes as he gracefully descended back to the earth, letting go of the wide- eyed Tom only when Antonio was sure heŐd stand on his own. For his part Tom could only stand, stunned, trying to regain a little focus. He had flown before, it was true. But then he had been in fear for his life, pleading with Lestat for a second chance. This time... the earth had danced under them, sparkling like a jewel. He had wanted to go higher, to penetrate through the mist and fog to the clear night sky, to touch the very heavens. "How many angels can dance on a cloud?" he thought to himself. At once he sought out Brad, finding it reassuring to see the same emotions in his loverŐs expression. Pandora wasted no time. "Well, once again the prima donna graces us with his almighty presence.' she smirked. "Ready to lighten up and have some fun, twinkle toes?" At once a vivid, very graphic image of Pandora going over a knee and being soundly spanked flashed through Tom's mind. Behind him, Antonio choked, desperately trying to contain a startled laugh. David cleared his throat, looking the other way while Pandora sputtered with fury. "If there's anyone who needs a good spanking, it's you, you simpering brat!" she hissed, advancing on him. "Pandora..." David said gently, taking her by the arm. "Why don't we go over here? We need to plan the evening's activities." He gently steered Pandora away from them, who continued to carry on like a wet cat. Antonio shook his head, sighing a little. "You may need to come into the coven for your own protection." he said softly. Then he gave Tom a small shove toward Brad. "You wanted him. There he is. Go on before Pandora starts round two." Still a little stunned, Tom moved obediently to Brad's side, discovering only when he stood next to him that he had no idea what to say. Suddenly, it was as though they were on a warped version of a first date. He felt almost painfully shy, tongue tied... and he was sure he looked perfectly ridiculous. "Hi." he said softly, for lack of a better opening. "Can we talk a moment?" "All right." BradŐs soft drawl was perfectly neutral as they moved away from the group. Tom kept his voice low, though he knew any one of them could hear everything said if they wished. "Do you want to stay with them?' Brad smiled. "You have a better idea?" Tom looked at him, the odd shy feeling melting as he met the sapphire gaze. "We could leave. Talk. Whatever..." Smile growing, Brad raised his eyebrows. "Whatever?" Tom laughed a little. "It's all I could think of on short notice. Give me a break... this has got to be the longest night in history." He took a deep breath then looked back at Brad, waiting to see what he had in mind for the rest of the night. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 526: Daniel "Daniel, get a hold of yourself!" He ran his fingers through his frozen hair and took a few deep breaths. "Christ, I'm losing it! What the hell set me off like this?" Pandora came to mind, but it wasn't her and he knew it. Was it still Armand? He had Jesse now, a chance at a real life, a chance for the life he was after the night he went in search of Lestat. It was still Armand. "Shit!" He began pacing back and forth on the side- walk. People were starting to stare at him as he tried to reason things out in his head. "Uh sir? Are you okay, should I call someone?" Daniel looked at the man in front of him. It was a vallet from the restaurant he was pacing in front of. "Yes, I mean no, no I'm okay." The man leaned close to him so he wouldn't draw attention. "Sir, I don't mean to be rude, but you're scaring some of our customers away. Do you think you could be "okay" somewhere else?" Daniel thought for a moment. He looked around to find a crowd standing around them. "Maybe you can help me." He said aloud. "I have a problem. You see, I recently got involved with an incredible woman. She beautiful, intelligent, comes from *great* stock, and she's as in love with me as I am with her." "Aaaaaah!" the crowd went. "So what's the problem?" a short middle aged woman in the group asked. "Well, I think I still have strong feelings for someone else. There's this man that I've lived with for a long time--" The crowd gasped, but still listened intently. "Yes, I lived with him for almost twenty years...maybe more, but anyway, I'm still in love with him, but I don't think he loves me any longer." "Have you introduced him to this new lady friend of yours? That might spice it up!" A young man in the crowd suggested, before his girlfriend hit him in the ribs. "Don't listen to him!" she turned back to her ex-boyfriend "Pervert!" "Did you talk to this man friend of yours?" "No." Daniel admitted. "Well you talk to him! You ask him if he still loves you. You tell him how you feel!" The crowd nodded and gave a general sign of agreement. "Don't let it end with all the strings untied!" "Janice!" The pervert intruded. "Not another word Frank, it's time I told you the truth about Gwendolyn." The crowd turned their attention to Janice and Frank, and Daniel snuck away into the stream of people passing by. Taking the advice of Janice, Daniel scanned the area to see if Armand was anywhere near New Orleans. He picked up on Gabrielle, Marius and a general feeling of discomfort. It wasn't too far from where he was. In fact, it was one block away. "Damn!" He was hoping for some time to think about what he would say, but there wouldn't be any time for that. Better get there now before they burn down the St. Louis. He walked into the lobby of the hotel and searched for the location of the highest tension. Everything pointed to the courtyard. He walked toward it slowly, trying to build up the courage to talk to him once he got there. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 527: Lestat Lestat felt a shudder go through him as Louis took him into his arms. "Ahh, mon Louis," he sighed, before he could help himself. He slipped his arms around him. "Thank God you're here. At the hotel all I could think about was how I had to tell you. Had to *talk* to you. *Needed* to." He drew back just a bit, taking in a deep breath to fill himself with Louis' scent. "There's no one in the world like you, beautiful one. No one." _________________________________________________________________________ Post 528: Louis Lestat drew back just a bit, taking in a deep breath to fill himself with Louis' scent. "There's no one in the world like you, beautiful one. No one." Louis smiled. "And I am sure the firmament rejoices that there is only one of you, Lestat!" He lay his head against the familiar form and closed his eyes. He was truly home. There was no other feeling quite like having Lestat's arms around him. "There's so much I have to tell you, so *very* much, Louis." Lestat said, sighing. "I needed to see you... *had* to be with you..." "Lestat, you're shaking..." "Am I? Oh... I guess I am." He swallowed and leaned back into the soft upholstery of the sofa. Lestat took a few deep breaths and tried to compose himself. "This might take a bit of effort..." he said, raking his hair back from his face. Louis rose and taking Lestat's hands, pulled him to his feet. "Come on. You need to lay down. I haven't the faintest idea what could get you in such a condition, but what ever has happened, you can tell me about it horizonally." He slipped one arm through Lestat's and wrapped the other firmly around his waist. Lestat allowed himself to be led down the hall. He watched mutely as Louis opened the door to his bedroom and gave the down quilt a shake. Louis guided him to the bed and pressed him to sit down. "I can take off the boots myself..." he said softly, as Louis pulled the snakeskin boots from his feet. Louis glanced up into his eyes. "Yes. I know. Lay down..." Louis smiled gently. Louis walked over to the window and made sure the louvers were closed. He gingerly pulled the drapes together, taking care not to dislodge where he had haphazardly tacked them up. Satisfied of their security, he climbed into his bed next to Lestat. He moved close to him and placed his arm across Lestat's chest, holding him near. "Are you feeling a little better? You're trembling much less." He said, laying his head on Lestat's shoulder. "Oh... this is better..." Lestat sighed and closed his eyes. "I can't believe what's happened Louis... it's so unbelievable." "When you feel able to tell me..." Louis replied. "It started with Marius..." Lestat said, his voice drifting away. "Oui. With Marius. I'm glad you are on good terms with him once more, Lestat. He's always meant a great deal to you..." Louis added. Lestat's breathing had calmed and he had stopped trembling. "You were saying about Marius?" Louis raised his head a little to look into Lestat's face. "'Stat?" Lestat had slipped into a deep sleep. Louis smiled and lay back down next to his lover. "It will keep til the morrow, mon cher. It will keep." He closed his eyes. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 529: Daniel and Armand THREADER'S NOTE - This is the most unusual post you'll see in the RPG. It was done jointly by Stephanie and Lisa, and is in script form instead of prose. Daniel: Has just received advice from a crowd gathered by a restaurant he was pacing in front of. He is going to find Armand by scanning to see if anyone is near him. He picks up on Gabrielle and Marius (doesn't tell them he's coming) and head for the St. Louis. He is going toward the courtyard, where he senses the high tension. He's walking very slowly, like a man who wishes he was going to be shot...He is wearing the Tux he wore for cloud dancing and is not a bit wet since the ice had now melted on himDaniel: Has just received advice from a crowd gathered by a restaurant he was pacing in front of. He is going to find Armand by scanning to see if anyone is near him. He picks up on Gabrielle and Marius (doesn't tell them he's coming) and head for the St. He looks as if he stepped out of a classic Fred Astair movie...the part where he hasn't gotten the girl yet. Armand: In the courtyard of the St. Louis. Facing Gabrielle, Marius to his back. Highly tense, trying to cover it. He's dressed in black on black, looking very dramatic. The courtyard features lots of ironwork, a fountain in the center, a and tables. It's a restaurant when not overrun with uptight vampires, outdoors, but in the center of the hotel. A: Gabrielle, I think you should stay. I'm not going to be good company tonight.... D: A: Padrone... will you excuse me? I must speak with Daniel. Are you all right? D: No. Yes...I'm fine, I just thought I would see you. It's been a long time. A: Only a few weeks. Would you care to go somewhere private? D: Yes. I would prefer it. A: D: I was hoping you would have come to see me. A: It was on the list. It's been a long list, though. It's not large, but it will have to do. Lestat, it seems, got the last suite. D: Um, is that another thing you fought over? A: Lestat and I? D: Yes. Why not fight over the room, just like everything else?? A: I'm glad to see you too. D: I was only joking. A: Forgive me. I have had... a very disturbing night. My sense of humor is ... strained at the moment. D: Heh...really, your sense of humor is not up to it's normal hilarity. Well, there is a real shock! A: Daniel, would you care to discuss anything? Or is this to be another "brawl"? It is your right, I grant you, to vent your spite, if you choose to do so. Or... we could talk. D: What would you say to me if we just "talked"? A: I would ask how you have faired over these past several weeks.. And in return, if you cared to hear it, I would tell you what has happened in my own life, which you may find noteworthy. D: Ah. Then we would carry on as we always did in the past? A: I seem to recall we did more than just have a dialogue, but it seems to be as good a place as any to begin. The choice is yours. D: Oh Armand, would that you would just take me here . A: A great deal has happened, especially tonight. If you have no need of me, I think I should go. D: That list of yours, how far am I on it? A: You move. Some things are set, some mobile. You are at the top, or at least somewhere near the top five at all times. However, your agenda changes as well. Sometimes number one on my list is simply to give you space, and let you live your life. D: Let me live my life? You *now* want me to have space and live my life? After everything that has happened in the past two decades, NOW you have decided I need to live my own life? Sounds just a bit late, don't you think? A: Or not soon enough, depending upon how you view it. Would you care to know why I thought this? D: Go ahead, amuse me. A: No Daniel. I will speak to you. Or I will leave. I will not dance for your amusement. If you are not capable of an adult conversation, return to me when you are. D: All right, I will listen to you. Please go on and forgive my childlike attitude, I too have had a bad night. A: Thank you for that. Believe it or not, I would *love* to talk to you about this. And... hear all about your night, if you would tell me. Shall I go first, or do you wish to? D: You have piqued my interest. I'm all yours. A: When we returned to New Orleans... I was unprepared for the coven to gather again. You have seen for yourself how it never works out. They fight, then they leave. The dynamics have never allowed us to spend a great deal of time together. But recently Marius and I have been able to do just that. Spend time together. And I remembered some of the lessons he sought to teach me, and later Lestat. And... these lessons I have not considered teaching you. There were two reasons for these last few weeks. One... just as I said. To step back from your life and see what you would make of it. I was never far, my Daniel... but I thought you needed space. But of more importance, it seemed that many of the events which occurred in the past... sometimes the distant past... were coming to a head. It was a dangerous time to be anywhere near me, or even associated with me. For that reason as well, I kept my distance. D: I see. But...I thought it might have been something else A: What did you think? D: You'll laugh at me when I tell you. A: no, that is a trait I do not share with my brother. I promise not to laugh. D: Brother? A: One of the things which has happened tonight. I'll tell you in a moment. You first. D: I thought that you had lost your need for me. I felt it years ago, but I never said a word for fear it was true. I thought that once the human in me was dead, you would have no other use for me. But now I can see that it was yet another mistake on my part. I'm so full of them, aren't I? A: May I join you? D: Yes! Please, I wish you would. A: D: A: May I hold you? D: < on the verge of tears> Yes. I have longed for this moment. Even though you tell me it has only been a few weeks. To me, it seems like an eternity! A: I'm sorry. I had not intend to cause you such distress. I've missed you, my Daniel. D: I and I missed you! I cursed at you, hated you...no different then my life as a mortal. You remember? Only then it was you who came after me. But this is the same...the two of us sitting together. You always knew how to comfort me...to make me forget the pain. A: At least I have one talent. I read that damned book again. Just the other night. Lestat's book, of how we met. D: Queen of the Damned? you know he based that on what I told him? A: Yes. I know. D: Are you upset that I told him about us? A: No It is your life as much as mine. You've a right to share it with whomever you wish, however you wish. I was proud, reading it again. It was the most beautiful part. By far. D: I have to agree with you there. I was thinking of writing more about it one day. Just doesn't seem to do either of us justice...so short and clouded by all that Akasha and Maharet nonsense. A: I'm not sure I'd classify it "nonsense" when all but ... a dozen? of our race were destroyed in the process. Still, you have my blessing, if you wish to write of our time together. D: I'm glad. I wasn't going to ask you though. A: I know. It is an empty gesture, but all I can do. D: You were going to tell me more? A: yes. Did you know that Lestat went to Hong Kong? After the Pontchartrain burned? D: Yes, David told me. Do you know that I live with him now? A: No. Do you really? D: Yes, I live with David, Jesse, Pandora and the mortal Brad. It's a long story, I'll tell it to you when you are done. Please go on. A: It must be a long story. not where I expected you to end up. Well... I'll attempt to be succinct. I... no. I was going to tell you in order of importance, but it will make no sense. Chronological seems best. Marius, Antonio and I tracked Lestat to Hong Kong, though only Marius and I followed him. It was there that I decided to kill him. Marius talked me out of it. I... wanted revenge. For the dreams. For everything. For... hurting me. He has the ability to hurt me, Daniel, the way few others do. When we returned I still prayed for an opportunity for revenge. It seemed to present itself when Marius went to Lestat... to ask that Lestat be his son. In order for there to be peace between them, Lestat had to come to me, on my terms. And that, my Daniel, is what happened tonight. D: So you and Lestat are finally at peace? I have wondered when this would come about... I feared he would kill you one day. It would *kill* me to have had to read that in another of his ghastly books. A: The rumors of my death are exaggerated. But there is more. The reason Lestat *had* to come to me, and on my terms, in order to be a part of Marius' life, is that Marius and I are engaged to be married. D: What!? A: We're going to be married. D: You're going to *marry* Marius! God, what for? A: Because I am desperately in love with him. But it is more than that. He and I were fated to be together. We both need this commitment, one from the other, to take away the night terrors. Santino scarred us both more than we knew, and Akasha after him. And so we thought to make a more formal declaration, following the tradition set by Louis and Lestat. D: But marriage?! I don't understand this Armand, it's so human! And what of us? I don't think we need to be glued together, but... I'm having a hard time accepting this. A: I understand. Take all the time you need. The relationship I have with Marius is rather different than the relationship I have with you. I do not believe this needs to exclude you from my life. Or, in truth, alter our relationship at all. I have found, much to my surprise, that there are as many forms of love in the world as there are stars in the sky. D: That there is. I know you need more then what I am able to give. I'm just the boy you found, the one that would teach you the new age. But Marius, he is you father and mentor who was denied to you for so long. What am I to him? But for what it is worth, you are those very things to me. I would die without you, you know this? A: I know. Daniel... my chosen child... I do love you. Completely. But in a different way than I love Marius. And you said it yourself. You do not need the type of commitment from me that Marius needs. That does not mean we do not love one another. It means we love differently. You are far more than a boy I picked up from the streets. D: Yes, I know this is what you tell me. But...I feel it some times. I think about the past and...You won't understand this if I tell you, because there is no logic to it. A: Tell me anyway. If it is important to you, I'll try to understand. D: You... you know how to hurt me like no other. Think of how Lestat hurts you. That is how...no, it is not the same way of hurting, but it is the same impact. You... you have this way of pushing me away and yet still hang on. I don't know what to do most of the time. I'm not making sense, am I? David told me earlier tonight that I wasn't making sense. A: I understand you perfectly. D: Do you? A: Yes. D: Then tell me if this is just in my head or if that is what you do to me! A: That is how we react to each other. You no more imagine it than I do it deliberately. It is nearly an instinct. Another symptom, if you will, of the night terrors. D: A symptom of the night terrors? Surely you don't suggest that this problem is *that* new? A: The night terrors, for me, began in 1472. D: I see. So it's goes back that far. Five hundred years later and still the world turns in the same fashion. I love you. A: I love you too, beautiful boy. And... I'll tell you something I've never told another. D: What is that? A: I think I'm only ... perhaps... 40 years old. The rest of the time... I was dead. I've no more idea what I'm doing, for all my vast age... than anyone else. And that is why I still carry on this way. I lived until I was seventeen, and again... after I met you. The rest may as well be forgotten as a terrible, extended nightmare D: Well then, that puts us at precisely the same age At least, by my birth we are the same age. I'm afraid I stopped aging when I met you. My mind, all but gone. A: Yes. That is the way of it. We ... it is like an infection, to meet a vampire. One from which mortals seldom recover. D: I bet I drove you as insane as you drove me...well almost . A: Daniel... in the brothel I leaned many lessons. I still carry some of them with me. Chief of which is that I *never* weep. But I shed many a tear for you. I knew how it would end between us. I fought it as I had never fought anything before. I fought for your life, knowing all the while I would lose. And so I did. D: No! You didn't lose! I still want this life! I never have regretted what you did! I was truly dead before. There wasn't a time I can remember that I wasn't drunk. But it wasn't your fault. It happened the night Louis drank from me. That night marked my fate. I would have died were it not for your saving kiss. God, can you even know how I much I love you for what you did? I understand the cost that it was to you! A: It seems a night for such declarations. Do you know what Lestat told me tonight? D: No, I don't. A: He told me that he loved me, and always has. He... called me his brother. He... was completely sincere. D: That is what you meant before when you spoke of your brother. A: Yes. It is a terrifying thing, but it seems that now the five of us are indeed a family. It is something I very much wanted to speak to you about. You could not have timed your visit better. D: I'm afraid I don't understand. A: Briefly, Marius and I are to be married. Louis and Lestat, as you know, already are. Marius has just accepted Lestat as his son. And you, my Daniel, will always be mine. It was my dream that the five of us begin a life together. I know that you need your independence. I have always loved that in you. But... It was terribly important for me to communicate this to you. That you are welcome within this new family, and have a rightful place within it. D: You mean you want me with you?! Me to be a part of your coven? A: I want you there. I need you there. but I do not demand it of you. It is an invitation only. D: Yes I want to be a part of it! I have always wanted this, you know that! My God I've dreamt about this night! I was so frightened to come here tonight, I thought you would turn me away and I'd have to go on living in that house with Pandora...Who is a bit much to... God, I almost slugged her tonight! A: Hush, my Daniel. Of course I want you with me. You are my chosen one. And Pandora... should be dropped in a well and sealed there. D: You know about it? A: I know Pandora. She is Marius' first child... so technically she is my sister. D: And my aunt. She was kind to me though...I just couldn't stand being around her for much longer. Made you look like nothing in the domineering business. But David seems to like her well enough. A: Pandora only has two modes of operation, loudmouthed boor, and comatose vegetable. I prefer the latter. And question David's taste. D: Oh, David...he's just bidding time for Maybe it's better I didn't tell you. A: D: Uh...he's waiting for He's waiting for Santino. A: Well, that confirms my opinion of David's taste. D: Well, David and I...I find David to be very nice. I think it's just a matter of there being so few of us. It could be worse, he could have gone after Mael. A: He and Pandora ought to consider each other. D: Yes! There would be a grand couple! Mr. Grumps and his lovely Statue! you've made me so happy! A: My Daniel... I love to hear your laughter. Now tell me. Why the tuxedo? Or was it just another ploy to gain my attention, knowing I would be unable to take my eyes from such a striking figure? D: Oh my God! Jesse! She must hate me now! Well, at least she will when I get back to her. I forgot to tell you this. Jesse and I...well, I told her I loved her. A: Did you mean it? D: I thought I did when I told her...I still think I do. I don't know! I was so miserable without you, that I... I did something stupid. A: Daniel, I can not advise you in this. Jesse is a beautiful woman, and very passionate. If you declared your love, she will probably take you very seriously. Though, if you are truly in love, one with the other, she would be welcome at the villa as your chosen companion. D: Thank you I think I do love her. It started rather innocently. She taught me how to fly,, which by the way, was one of the most thrilling experienced in my life! But she was so sad because of Tom and Brad, I thought I would cheer her up. That's why I got the Tux. I took her cloud dancing...that's why I'm wet. A: *Cloud* dancing? Daniel... that's fantastic! D: Yeah, it is! Have you ever done it? A: I've never even considered it. Trust the new generation. D: I'll have to take you sometime, it's truly wonderful. Nothing seems bad up there. Ruined the Tux though...next time bathing suits A: Cloud dancing in bathing suits. and you wonder why I love you... D: I do love you! Please, make love with me! A: D: < pulls away slightly> Marius...He won't have a problem with this, will he? A: None whatsoever. But what about lovely Jesse? D: We've only just declared our love tonight, she can't expect me to forget about you! I'm sure she'll understand...I think she would love to live at the villa I think she will approve of us together right now. Do you remember all the times I bedded those mortals for you? A: Yes. D: I used to pretend they were you. the men and the women. All you! A: I know . D: I I just thought I should tell you. A: My beautiful Daniel... I Know what you thought of me. But I do not think you'll ever believe how much in love with you I truly am. And it is for the sake of that love, that I wish to ask you a favor. D: Ask anything of me, I'm yours. A: I would ask that we not make love tonight. Until you have had a chance to think about all of this. My place in your life, Jesse as well. If you truly love her, and if so... would she resent this? I would not ruin your chances with her over one impulsive act, my Daniel. And between the two of us... there is always time. D: Whether Jesse accepts this or not is a problem. If this bothers her, then I will not stay with her. You are my eternal love! I would never place her above you! A: I understand that. I never thought that. I did not wish to cause a problem between the two of you. My love for you will never change. Should you stay with Jesse for a time, or anyone else, my love will always remain. That is all. D: I understand. I want you so much right now, but I understand. It's a complicated thing, this life, isn't it? I never had a real relationship outside of you. I was only 19 when we met. A: I know. But you, have just learned the lesson which ancient Santino is just now learning. The decisions you make within this family will stay with you for eternity. When you see it from that point of view, patience suddenly becomes an easy thing. D: I gather the years don't help a bit too . A: His crimes against his kind haunt him to this day. He is exiled from his own society, even from Lestat who claims him as friend. He will never be fully trusted for an act performed 500 years ago... even when one takes into account that he later saved Marius from the ice and Akasha. It is a lesson you would do well to remember, as should we all. D: I pity him. Don't misunderstand me, I know why both you and Marius find no favor with him, but... I still find it sad. He wants to love David and he can't. Do you really believe that Santino could never make amends? A: I know I will never forgive him. I understand why he did it, and I understand that he has changed with the passage of time. But as long as Marius and I hold sway over our society... no. I do not think Santino will ever recover from that night, any more than Marius or I truly will. D: And Lestat, he would abandon Santino if you and Marius asked him to? A: If it ever came down to an absolute choice... yes. I believe he would. Hopefully it will never come to pass. I am prepared to tolerate Santino, as is Marius. Lestat claims him as friend. So be it, I do not hold that against him. I... would not see Lestat put through that, to hell with Santino. . For that reason alone I would work to see that it never happens. D: Good. But it still is disturbing. I don't know Santino well, I on;only know what he has done and that he values his friendship with Lestat more then he values his own life. I...I would hate to think I find it difficult to accept that, we, who have all of eternity, could not work off past debts. It's not Santino, it's the symbol. A: Daniel, you have a very valid point. I do not discount it in any way. but that bastard cost me five hundred years of my life. I shall never forgive him either for that, or for the pain both physical and mental he forced Marius to endure. In truth, still endures to this very moment, as I myself am scarred. I can not be rational in this instance. I'm sorry. D: I should drop this issue now, but...What of Claudia? what if Louis or Lestat could not forgive you for that and they had power and had you exiled from the coven? What would your life be like then? Oh please, forgive me this, I'm very upset by what you have told me and I don't know why! A: D: Is this what you do to Marius when you wish to change the subject? What was I saying, god you are divine! A: I forgive you. Yes, my Daniel. That is *exactly* what I do to distract Marius. Claudia... and that is who you were speaking of, is a similar thing. You'll notice that I've not mentioned my relationship with Louis in our coven. that is because she still hangs like a specter between us, and perhaps always shall...though I had every right to put her to death, and ultimately did her a kindness by doing so. D: Claudia who? A: You are very tempting, beautiful boy. And I will still be patient, though I will probably regret it. D: licks corner of his mouth were a drop of blood lingers> Jesse will love living with us , how could she not? The Patriarch, the Brat, the imp and his little pet boy, how could she not, I ask you again? A: Don't forget the Beautiful One. D: And Louis. You speak of Louis. A: Of course. The best and the worst... the glory and the curse of us all. D: Ah yes, I fell in love with him once too. It seems to be the common reaction. Jesse will too, if she hasn't already. Can you imagine, the six of us all together? The love and hate that will take place in that villa! A: I'm rather afraid to think of it just now. so much has happened tonight... and my Daniel, I should go to Marius now. He has suffered enough waiting for one night, first to see if either Lestat and or I would return from that room alive, and now this. I'm sure he is convinced the world is ending, which is why you sought me out. D: My world had ended. This is something new . Then you should go to Marius and tell him that the world is over and that we are going to rebuild it again! A: We rebuild it in our own image. D: Don't be as morbid as that! I would like to get to know Marius, I think. A: I would like the two of you to know one another. You are both central figures in my life. Daniel... if I don't leave now, I never shall. You'll be all right? You'll talk to Jesse? D: Yes. I'll be fine now. I don't even remember why I was so upset. Go to Marius, I won't keep you any longer. You don't mind if I stay here a little while, do you? A: Not at all. The room is ours tonight. Marius and I are at the St. Anne, which is just a block from here. You can always reach me through Marius, if you uneed to find me at once. I'm *leaving*. See what you do to me? I love you... D: Hmph, apparently not enough to keep you here, but go, I don't want to be the one that caused Marius to spontaneously explode Please, A: D: Go so we can start rebuilding . _________________________________________________________________________ Post 530: Gabrielle Silence ensued after Armand asked her to stay. Slightly uncomfortable this lack of words was. It seemed as Armand was lost within his own thoughts, Marius furiously trying to figure out what Armand was thinking and Gabrielle simply...well...sat, a blank mind. This silence however, as usual, did not last for very long. As if in a second, Armand was gone-Daniel dragging him off somewhere to talk. Shaking off any stray thoughts in her mind, Gabrielle snapped herself back to life, reminding herself that Marius was beside her. She turned to him. He was staring off in the direction that Armand had left in, a slightly worried look gracing his face. Gabrielle reached out, slowly, and covered his hand with her own, giving a warm squeeze, She spoke softly, "He'll be alright you know." A sad smile traced a path across his lips, "I know. You know how it is though, a parent is never not worried about their child." She laughed quietly, "I think I may know that better than any parent. I don't ever remember a time that Lestat was ever not getting into trouble." Marius nodded, "This has all happened so quickly. I feel as if a weight has been lifted from me. If this has shaken Armand so, I hope that Lestat is holding up." Gabrielle patted his hand, "I think I can arrange to find that out." She reached across New Orleans, her mind gently touching that of her most beloved dark brother. She smiled at the contentment she found there, meaning only one thing- Lestat was home and safe. She sighed, relieved and transfered the feelings of contentment from Louis to Marius. "I think that answers your question." she smiled.