RPG SPEC: Dagger of the Mind
Sequel to "Hollywood Vampires"
Parts 57-59, Posts 561-590		
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Post 561: Sting

	"Amadeo..."
	He let the name roll off his tongue, then shook his head. Too 
much British, not enough Italian. He tried it again, moving the sounds 
around in his mouth, just about tasting each letter and then giving it 
breath with the changed inflection. "Amadeo."
	Yes, that was better. Sting nodded, making a small notation in 
the margin of the script. He had been reading the thing all afternoon, 
first just reading and memorizing, then testing out the sounds of various 
phrases and especially the names. Ones that were already well known were 
easy - Lestat, Louis, - but some of the other ones needed careful work, 
and the accent needed definate work. Italian. A Roman, living in Greece, 
who used to live in Venice. Well, perhaps a Continental accent would do. 
He tried that, rolling it around again in his mouth, then testing it on 
another name. "Santino..."
	It didn't flow off the tongue nearly as easily or musically as 
the name of Marius' child did. And there was something about it... it 
jogged him memory, something outside the script, and for the first time 
in hours he glanced up, staring at the time on the clock face in bemused 
surprise. That late? Surely not... but the sky beyond the curtains was 
dark, fading from dusk to true night. Sting blinked at the sight for a 
little, rapidly pulling him mind out of the world it had been in for the 
entire afternoon and trying to focus again on the world around him.
	Oh. Tom Cruise. The get together with the other cast members. 
George Clooney. Santino. That night. That was it.
	Bemused at the way his own mind determinedly dug up the 
information, he tossed the script down on the bed at his feet, rubbing 
his hands over his face and through his hair. Bizzare feeling, to have it 
this long again. And lightened to nearly white, none the less. He pulled 
a lock foreward to stare at for a moment, then sighed, pulling it all 
back with one hand and fishing a rubber band out of his pants pocket to 
secure it with.
	The bed was littered with things from that afternoon. The script; 
paperback versions of the books, now liberally dog eared and highlighted 
in garrish shades of yellow and pink. A stone cold and long forgotten cup 
of tea on the bed side table. His sun glasses, the dark navy shirt that 
was far too much for the New Orlean's humid warmth, odds and ends 
unpacked from his luggage and strewn across the covers and pillows. The 
bag with a few purchases from that afternoon, down on Bourbon street.
	What in hell had he been thinking? He had to stop and consider it 
again before remembering. The get together. George Clooney. Same hotel. 
That was it. He had made a mental note earlier that he should look the 
man up, at least introduce himself, something of that sort. 
	Sting sat up and stretched, rolling his head back and working the 
knot out of the shoulder he had been leaning against. Yes, he should go 
make a passing aquaintance with his fellow new cast member, and perhaps 
find out if he knew anything more about the seeming party that night, or 
the consultants Tom had mentioned, or any of it. He started to grab the 
shirt he had discarded earlier, then paused, and instead grabbed the bag 
and one of the things he had purchased earlier.
	Light, crisp cotton, not too heavy for this weather, and very 
stylishly cut. Sting looked at it for a moment, weighing it in his hands, 
then shrugged and slipped the shirt on, buttoning it and tucking it in 
and straightening it before standing and surveying the result in the mirror.
	NOT his normal look. He preferred dark colors, not too flashy. 
This thing was red, the exact color of half dried blood, somewhere between
crimson and dark brick red. The color he was going to be dressed in for
just about every shot in the film. He had seen it in the store and bought
it on a whim, just to see what the color would look like on him and
whether he could carry it off properly. Now, smoothing down collar and
tugging at cuffs, he had to admit it wasn't bad. "Not bad at all..." he
told his reflection, grinning slightly. The reflection grinned back,
slightly irreverant and cocky and sure of itself. Sting nodded his
approval silently, then scooped up his room key, pocketing it, and left to
go find George Clooney.
	He had inquired as to room number earlier and a quick elevator 
ride and walk down the hall later, he paused in front of the door and 
reached out to rap a knuckle on the wood. 
	He was about to knock again when the door was opened by a 
slightly bleary eyed man with the most incredibly striking bold black 
design up one arm and across his shoulder that Sting had ever seen at a 
personal distance. It took him a good minute to tear his eyes away from 
it and focus on the man himself, who was now looking at him with some 
puzzlement.
	"George Clooney?" he asked, clearing his throat.
	The man nodded, smiling a little. "Yeah, that's me. And you are...?"
	It was a novelty to be asked that so many times in one day, and 
it shocked the humor back into Sting. He rather enjoyed the slight 
anonimity he had, being only a singer in the midst of movie stars. They 
all had to think for a moment before placing his face.
	With a genuine smile he held out his hand, once again unable to 
keep from just popping out with the first thing that came to mind, as he 
had to Tom in the lobby. "Gordon Sumner. According to the new script, you 
get to set me on fire one of these nights."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 562: Gabrielle

        Parent to Parent talks always seemed to help some how, Gabrielle
believed that the trading of "tricks" was always necessary. She never knew
much about being a mother, the past had proven that to all. This lead her
to believe that now more than ever, it was about time her motherly insticts
should show.
        Then again....

        Gabrielle awoke the following evening with a spinning head and no
direction in mind. Even though her mind refuesed to stop running, a sense
of peace had replaced the violent worry which had been plaguing her for so
long. Lestat was safe, Armand was safe, the family was safe. Or so it
seemed.
        She sighed, dragging herself from the luxery of the satin covered bed.
        "I need to have some fun." she murmered as she flipped through the
wardrobe in her closet. First, she stopped upon a pale khaki suit. The, her
mind told her to go on and rip out a blue, electric blue, satin dress.
        "Ah." a grin erupted over her features, "Now, *this* is more like it!"
        Into the dress she slipped, and admired her reflection in the
mirror. She garbbed a brush from the vanity and stroked her long blond mane
over her shoulders,
        "Still can knock 'em dead, even at my age!"
        One more glance in the mirror and she was out the door, down the
stairs and out into the vibrant New Orleans night.
        She remembered Pandora's invitation to visit First Street where the
bunch of them were staying. Gabrielle shrugged and figured that would be
the best place to start. Wouldn't want to interrupt the lovebirds on Rue
Royal or God forbid walk in on Marius and Armand, things like that ruin
people for life!
        Lost in her own thoughts, her feet took her to the house on First
St. Concentrating as she was, Gabrielle didn't notice the mint green Chevy
until she was practically on top of it. It forced her concentration to the
front door where Daniel stood screaming for Brad. A bewildered mortal
flanked his right side looking all the more confused every minute.
        "What the HELL is going on?" Gabby muttered under her breath as she
walked slowly up the front walk.

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Post 563: David

     David moved restlessly in the bed. He was overcome with the feeling
of being helpless, of having someone you trust betray you in the most
complete and intimate of ways and not being able to fight back. *Not the
dreams again!* But it didn't seem like the other dreams, they were too
clear and distinct. He opened his eyes but the tension remained. he
scanned Brad's room to see if he and Tom were arguing. But Tom wasn't
there, it was Antonio! And it appeared as though he was trying to give
Brad a scare/lesson in what it is to be a vampire. 
     David shot up and ran to Brad's room wearing only his pants from the
night before. He didn't bother knocking, just flung open the door and
startled both occupants. He glared at Antonio for a moment.
     "Leave Brad, it would be best if you waited downstairs" David said. 
"Antonio and I need to talk."  Brad continued to huddle on the floor,
still shaken by what had occured. "Go!"  Then gently he spoke to Brad's
mind ::I won't hurt him, there are somethings we have to discuss. That is
all.  Now grab your clothes and wait for us on the first floor.:: 
     When Brad had gathered up his clothes and left, David slammed the
door shut. "Did you share blood with him?"  Antonio looked away. "Answer
me! Did you give him a taste of your blood?" 
     "Yes. But I did it to show him the power...the darkness of--" 
     "You did nothing but drive him further into the madness!  Dear God,
what were you thinking!  A strong mortal *might* be able to survive the
knowledge of us, but not the blood!  Your passion over shines your common
sense and now Brad will pay for that flaw in your character. 
     "You are new and obviously not well taught, so I can forgive, maybe
even appreciate, your naivity and unrestrained emotions. But they are not
traits many of us will tolerate for long. Understand that Brad is
protected by all four vampires in this house. We will defend him by what
ever means are necessary. Think about that before you break into our house
again. Had it been Pandora or Jesse that discovered you here, I garentee,
it's not a 'discussion' you would be having right now.  Do you
understand?"

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Post 564: Louis

	"So I came here... and prepared to die." Louis whispered
	Every nerve in Lestat's body felt the shock of those few words. He
seized Louis by his shoulders and held him at arms length. 
	"YOU TRIED TO KILL YOURSELF????  YOU TRIED TO GO INTO THE SUN???"
Lestat bellowed... the windows in the room rattled from the volume of his
voice. 
	"Listen to me, Lestat! Listen!" Louis took hold of the arms that
held him so tightly. "I went over to the window and stood for a few
moments. I was about to rip down the draperies, when I heard Gabrielle's
cry for help... she was caught in the fire at the Pon..." 
	"Gabrielle? In a fire?" Lestat's mind was ready to burst... he
could have lost two out of three surviving fledglings in one night... 
	"Yes!" Louis shook Lestat slightly. "Yes, but I got to her in
time. We arrived back here before the sun's first rays..." Louis took a
breath. "And I stayed with her to be certain she was going to be all
right." 
	Lestat disentangled himself from Louis' arms, and raking his hair
out of his face, collapsed backward on the bed. 
	"I didn't know..." he breathed. 
	"No... how could you? We didn't know where you had gone..." Louis
replied. "There wasn't any way to tell you both Gabrielle and I had
survived." 

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 565: Antonio

	Antonio's eyes narrowed and he closed the distance between 
himself and David until they were an inch apart.  His voice was low, 
dangerous.  "If it is a civil war you want, you meddlsome fool, I will 
be delighted to oblige you.  Or you could lend credence to your 
reputation for common sense by thinking of a slightly larger picture than 
immediate actions.  I fight for Brad's life every bit as much as you do, 
and damn you for not seeing that."
	David held his ground, his voice softer than before.  "The 
infamous Daniel technique, used by one Louis de Pointe du Lac in 
California.  That young man went on to write the very book which drew you 
into our world... Louis did nothing but drive him to the brink of madness."
	"That is very true.  But Daniel did not know of us before that 
night.  Brad does.  Brad has already been exposed, and is currently being 
stalked.  His *only* chance is to be made so terrified of us all that it 
will overcome his passion... his love... for Lestat's newest child!"  He 
turned away, despair clear in his eyes.  "Now... Damn you... *HELP* me.  
Do whateve you will to me later.  But *Help me* now!"

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 566: Brad

     Brad crouched against the wall, trying desperately to order his
scattered thoughts so he could answer Tony. He wanted to tell him -
and mean it - that he *didn't* want to be one of them, that he
wouldn't let it happen to Tom. Especially not now...
     The door opened, and David marched into the room, clad in only a
pair of pants.
     "Leave Brad, it would be best if you waited downstairs. Antonio
and I need to talk."  
     Brad stared at David in confusion. Go downstairs? But he had to
talk to Tony, he had to tell him...
     "Go!" David barked.
     Brad leapt to his feet and pressed back against the wall, his
eyes wide with fright. What did David mean to do? He was mad...would
he hurt Tony? David had Lestat's blood, untapped, as it were, from his
time with Akasha. He could hurt Tony...
     David gently spoke into his mind, ::I won't hurt him, there are
some things we have to discuss. That is all. Now grab your clothes and
wait for us on the first floor.::
     Brad scrabbled around for this his clothes, his eyes pleading for
Tony not to lose that Latin temper of his while he and David
"discussed" things. Before he could say a word, David hustled him out
of the room and slammed the door shut. 
     Brad looked at the closed door helplessly. No matter what Tony
had done, he didn't want him in trouble with the only family he could
have because of him!

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Post 567: Pandora

     It was a good thing she was so strong! It had taken three men to
carry all her packages from the limo and into the front hall - and
they'd all been red in the face when they put them down. Still it had
only taken her a matter of moments (and her considerable balancing
skills) to get the whole lot up to her room.
     She'd been happily rummaging through her purchases when a wave of
stark terror rolled over her.
     Brad! And Antonio!!
     She stumbled and kicked her way through the mounds of packages
and yanked her door open - only to find that David had thundered out
of his room a beat ahead of her. He was through the door and into
Brad's room in a blink, and she slowed her pace, not wanting to
overwhelm Antonio. He'd feel cornered, ganged up on, and that was
never a good thing with the young ones. Everything was so immediate
and intense for them. Even David, as well as he was coping, even he
still had his moments after years of adjusting. 
     But years were not a millennia...though that was no guarantee of
a well balanced person either...
     Pandora leaned against the wall, listening, only to straighten a
moment later as a nude Brad was unceremoniously deposited in the hall.
     The poor thing's mind was racing in a million directions. And no
matter where he turned, what path he took, he wound up in the same
place. Still, that didn't keep him from searching!
     Pandora smiled at the boy's back and went to collect him. He'd
had just about enough for this evening, and he hadn't got his clothes
on yet!

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 568: Brad

     "Can't have it both ways, child."
     "Whu...?" Brad whipped around, his already shattered nerves
causing his heart to flutter madly at Pandora's sudden appearance.
     "As much as I appreciate the view," Pandora eyed his naked form
up and down, then winked at him, "I don't think you should stand
around in the hall that way. Too tempting. Just asking for trouble..."
     Pandora took him by the arm and lead him away from his and Tom's
room. Brad looked over his shoulder, half expecting to see David or
Tony come crashing through the door.
     "There's no fighting allowed in my house. If they want to pound
on each other, they have to take it outside!" Pandora said drily and
she dragged him through the doorway and into her room.
     "Pandora, I have to talk to Tony! Please, tell him not to
leave!!" Brad knew he was near frantic, but he didn't want Tony to be
overcome with guilt and bolt. He was alone too much. He needed to be
with the others, to talk to them and learn stuff - more than the
morose philosophy Louis could teach him. 
     "True," Pandora murmured picking up his thoughts. "Louis' way is
not for everyone...as a matter of fact Louis way is not for anyone
*but* Louis!"
     Brad couldn't appreciate Pandora's humor at the moment. All he
could think of was Tony fleeing into the night.
     "All right, child. I'll tell him."
     ::Antonio. Brad would like for you to stay so that he can talk to
you. *I* would like for you to say so that Brad can talk to you.::
Pandora sent so that he could hear it.
     "Thank you, Pandora," Brad said gratefully.
     "Don't mention it. Now I think you need a shower. You stink from
sex."
     Brad felt really shocked for a moment, then he began to laugh
helplessly as Pandora ushered him into the bathroom.

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 569: Brad

     Brad was surprised when Pandora followed him into the bathroom
and perched on the froofy little vanity chair.
     "Uh..."
     "Go on, get in the shower. I'm going to sit her and imagine what
you look like with the water running all over you!" Pandora grinned at
him.
     "It's more fun this way. I could just yank the curtain open on
you at crucial soaping moments..." Pandora raised her eyebrows at him
and gave a pointed look to where his hands were clasped modestly in
front of him. "But that would be rude. Don't you think?" 
     Brad blushed, and then laughed and decided to just give up where
Pandora was concerned. "Okay, Pandora. You win!" Brad surrendered his
modesty and bowed low before her, straightening he flung his arms out
and spun.
     Pandora clapped and cat called. Brad bowed again and jumped into
the shower playing peekaboo with the curtain and various parts of his
anatomy before calling it quits and getting down to serious washing.
     As soon as the curtain fell, the levity died. Brad reached a
shaking hand for the water turning it on as hot as he could stand it
trying to drive away the cold shivers that threatened to overwhelm
him.

                    ***********************************

     Pandora sighed as she felt the despair sweep over Brad. There
wasn't much she could do for him, either. Unless he chose to stay
under their watchful eyes every moment, he could be had. 
     And even then, would he go with them on the hunt? Would he sleep
in the same room with them, so that Antonio could not catch him up
unawares again? That would be sheer folly. What's more his mind, no
matter how strong, would not stand up to the life a vampire must lead
in order to live. If he left them, Antonio would have him for certain.
He wouldn't be able to help himself.
     And then there was the other one. That one was already swimming
in the deep waters as far as Brad was concerned. Already he sought to
bind Brad to him with every skill he possessed. If that one ever
became a Child of Darkness, Brad would not be far behind.
     The child was doomed. Even if he stayed with them, and they
managed to keep Antonio from him, how long would it be before they too
became so enamored of his sweet good nature that they couldn't bear to
lose him to time?
     "Run away, child. Runaway and hide..." Pandora whispered. But she
knew it was too late for that.
     Much, much too late.

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 570: Brad

     Brad stepped from the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist.
Pandora handed him another to dry himself with, and he did, silently.
He was in no mood anymore for laughing and silliness - not even the
pretense of it was in him now.
     "What did you mean?" Brad stopped toweling his hair to look at
Pandora. "What did you mean when we were out in the hall and you said
I can't have it both ways?"
     "I meant that you can't be near Antonio, and love him and help
him be what he is...and still be safe with him." Pandora said plainly.
     "But what else can I do?" Brad whispered. "I don't know what else
to do..." he could feel his eyes filling with tears, and tried to
blink them away. Instead they began to roll down his cheeks in a
steady stream.
     "Am I dead then, Pandora? Am I dead already, and just don't know
it?" Brad put his face in his hands and began to weep. "I tried
Pandora, I tried..."
     Pandora came and pull him into her arms, soothing his fears as
best she could, her own ancient flesh barely warmed by the many she
had fed on earlier this night. So many to even give her this small bit
of warmth.
     "You keep trying, Brad. You keep doing whatever you can to stay
in the sun. Who knows, you may just get lucky..."
     "The colors are fading, Pan." Brad whispered, his eyes filled
with misery. "They're not as bright as they should be! I saw...I
saw...such colors! It was just for a second, but oh, the colors Pan!"
The memory of the blood sang in his veins.
     "Just remember, child. For those colors, you have to trade the
one's that shine in the light of the sun. *Those* colors you can
*never* get back once the deal is done..." Pandora took the tear
streaked face in her hands and looked deep into his eyes.
     "Now your eyes are all red and puffy!" As Brad blinked at her in
surprise, caught as he was in his own misery. But Pandora gave him no
time to gather his scattered wits. She dragged him over to the sink
and stuck his head under the faucet. He yelped and squirmed when she
turned on the cold water and let it stream over his reddened eyes.
     "Oh be still. You can't go out with red puffy eyes. People will
know you've been crying." Pandora pulled his face out from under the
stream of icy water. "You don't want *that* now do you?"
     Brad's thoughts immediately went to Tom and what his reaction
would be to red puffy eyes. He would demand to know why he had red
puffy eyes, and badger him until he told what happened with Tony...
Brad shivered at the thought of what could follow *that* revelation.
     "All hell would break lose," Pandora agreed, reading his thoughts
again. "And we'd better get rid of these, too." Pandora bit into her
thumb and rubbed it across the bite marks Tony had left on Brad's
throat. The small puncture wounds and the bruised flesh around them
slowly faded and vanished. 
     Pandora talked over the small shock wave that shook Brad as the
drops of her ancient blood seeped into his system, healing him.
"That's what I've been complaining about! No one is paying any
attention to these young ones! They're running around all over the
place unsupervised and getting into all sorts new and interesting
kinds of trouble without the vaguest notion of how to get themselves
out! The old folks are going through their second childhoods, hormones
all amok, you'd think they were all virgins, for pity's sake..."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 571: Brad

     Pandora nattered on, dragging him from the bathroom and laying
out all kinds of horrific items of clothing for him to try on. As he
sifted through the piles trying to find something that didn't frighten
him, he got an earful of all the other vampires' "lover's laments" as
she called them, from Mael's adolescent crush on Marius to Lestat's
not so secret fling with Jesse (they all knew about that one except
Mael - who was apparently being kept in the dark about it by unanimous
agreement).
     Brand couldn't help but be fascinated, and even laughed out loud
at a few bits of information he *knew* he shouldn't be privy to.
     "There's advantages to being treated like a living statue you
know? People tend to prop you up in a corner and forget you're there.
When you're thought of as furniture, you get to *see* a lot of really
interesting things, let alone hear them!"
     "Oh my..." Pandora trail off in her stream of consciousness
speech as stared at him.
     "What? It's all wrong isn't it? I couldn't find anything..."
     "Oh *NO*," Pandora breathed, clapping her hands together in
delight. "You look *won*derful!!"
     Brad looked down and shrugged. All of the pants she'd bought
seemed to be of some sort of leather, and in really interesting
shades, so he'd settled for a pair of paper thin black ones. When he
tried them on he discovered that they were loose and comfortable,
though the did fit a bit snugly in the crotch and around the butt.
Still the legs were loose and tapered down to fit around the ankle.
he'd put on a pair of low, black boots that seemed to blend in with
the pants legs, and toped the whole thing off with a deep teal-blue
silk shirt.
     Pandora dived in the boxes and emerged with a black leather belt
graced by a subdued gold buckle. She laced it around his waist and
then tried to undo half the buttons of his shirt.
     "Pan! Stop! I can't wear it like that. I'd look like one of those
male go-go dancers!!" Brad swatted at her hands, but she unbuttoned
the buttons as fast as he could button them up again.
     "Oh all right!" he huffed. "This is your show!"
     "Damn straight," she grinned at him. "It's my show, and if I want
you to look like a Chippendles dancer, then you will!" 
     Brad laughed as Pandora tucked an arm through his, using him to
steady herself as she slipped on a pair of red high heeled pumps. She
wore a little slip of a silk dress that fit tightly across the bodice
and waist and flared out at the hips. It was black with big red roses
splashed across it. She straightened and twirled for him and Brad's
eyes bugged out at the glimpse of gleaming white skin, garters and
lacy things that flashed across his retina's.
     "I think we're ready to go!" Pandora grinned at him. "And
besides, Daniel's downstairs bellowing at the top of his lungs,
instead of sending a nice little mental hello like a civilized person.
It's you he's bellowing for too, so I think we should go down before
the neighbors call the police."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 572: Lestat

	Lestat felt as though he'd been punched... no stabbed... no, 
there were no words for the feeling of utter death and cold in his gut.
	Louis and Gabrielle and Louis and Gabrielle and Louis and and and...
	Lestat put his hands to his head to stop the swimming sensation.  He
was loosing his mind.  That was it.  This was one long elaborate 
hallucination which started....
	When?  With this?  Armand?  Marius?  The nightmares?
	And if it was a dream then when would it end?  If he was locked, 
trapped in this dream...
	**Locked.... trapped.... kicking, screaming, no no nonononononono!!**
	Lestat took a large, desperate gasp of air, his body 
*shuddering*, the entire world shifting in a wave, and suddenly the 
blackness in front of his eyes which he didn't even know was there fell 
back and he could see the room once more.
	"Mon Dieu...." he whispered.

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 573: Louis

	"Lestat! Don't go spinning off! Listen to me!" Louis held Lestat
by the shoulders, as he bent over him. 
	" Hearing Gabrielle, pulling her from the burning room, caring for
her... it shocked me beck to reality, that I couldn't give up this gift of
life you had bestowed on me... I had to go on!" 
	Their eyes met. Lestat's expression cut deeply into Louis' soul. 
	"Oh, God, don't look at me like that!" Louis sat up. As he shoved
the thick mass of hair from his face, he realized tears had dampened the
strands and they clung to his face. "Dammit... I didn't know how else to
tell you..." He rubbed the tears from his eyes with the heel of his hand.
"How can I dare ask you to forgive me...? For this... and for what
happened between Antonio and myself? I'd follow you to the ends of the
earth... to the very gates of Hell... and then I turn around and shatter
everything we've ever been to each other..." Louis' choked on the words as
his voice broke. "Every promise..."
	Louis rose, stepped over the fallen draperies and walked to the
window. 
	"If you no longer want me, I'll understand... I'll leave. Perhaps
that would be for the best." He said softly. "I've destroyed our
relationship, I've hurt Tonio, confused the mortal, Brad."  He couldn't
turn and look into those tortured eyes, into the face he so loved. "Say
the word, Lestat and I'll be gone." 

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 574: David

     David looked into the eyes of the man and held him in his warm
gaze.  He saw the look he had seen many times before.  The look of
the men and women of the Talamasca, brought to the brink of madness
by the sights and terrors that they had bore witness to. He had not
realized till now how far gone Antonio truly was. It was not the
time to argue over the "size" of the picture or who had the best
method for saving Brad, it was the time for understanding and
support.  This man, driven to madness by Armand, driven to passion
by Louis, threatened by Lestat, rejected by Brad; it was a wonder
he was still alive. 
     "Yes, of course I will help you." David finally said in a soft
kind voice.  "I have been keeping an eye on Brad since he moved in
this house. As you could see by my outburst, I'm rather intent on
keeping him as he is."  David smile at Antonio, sat on the bed and
getured to him to join him.  "You want to protect him from the
darkness, the madness that comes with this life. You do this out of
love for him, I see that now. I want to protect him because I could
not stand the thought of another taken against their will. You see,
there are very few of us that can resist the dark gift. The
betrayal...It is not easily forgotten. It pains me very much to see
Brad, or *anyone* being put though this tormant.  I lashed out at
you, I'm sorry. But at least now, we know we are on the same team,
eh?"  He put his arms around Antonio and tightly held him, not
knowing if he would fight him.  He didn't. Antonio seemed resigned
and weary, no longer willing to go on.
     "Oh, forgive me Antonio, I was wrong to talk to you as I did.
I understand your pain, I've lived it for nearly five years. This
was never meant to be. We have greatly wrong the three of you by
revealing ourself. We should have never set foot at that movie set,
we had no business in that. And now, I'm not sure we could make
amends for our actions. 
     "But I'll tell you this, I plan to talk to Lestat tonight. I'm
going to discuss Tom with him. I'm going to ask him not to make Tom
a vampire...try to reason with him that it would be a *very* bad
move to make. Perhaps Tom is not lost and his new love for Brad
will carry him through." Antonio merely nodded without much
enthusiasm. "And you...you are not lost yet! If my miserable old
bones can still be up and about, *you* must certainly have some
life left in you!"  He gave Antonio a wink. 
     "If you want, you are welcome to stay in this house. I trust
you, and I think Brad would like that. He's in misery when he can't
see you or Tom."
     "And Pandora and Jesse?"
     "I'll take care of that."  It was at that exact moment they both
heard Pandora's plea for Brad. 

      ::Antonio. Brad would like for you to stay so that he can talk to
 you. *I* would like for you to say so that Brad can talk to you.:: 

     "Well, that's one down." David laughed
     "You would do all this for me?  Why?"
     David tried to keep the mood light for Antonio, his own heart
was growing tired and sorrowful. He forced a smile and looked him
in the eye. "You remind me of a man I knew once in Rio."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 575: Chris and Daniel

	"Brad?" Chris said. "I don't know any Brad." 
	Daniel laughed at the actors ability over look the obvious. "What
do you mean?  You interviewed the man for God's sake!" 
	"Pitt!  Brad Pitt is here...NOW?  You're shitting me! What the
hell would he being doing here?" Daniel ignored the last comment and
bellowed for Brad to come down again. 
	"Danny Sweety Honey, is that you?!" Daniel, in his efforts to win
a rusted old mint green chevy, had inadvertantly summoned the woman who
would be the cause of his untimely demise. Best to get this over with and
ask her.  Jesse came flying down the stairs so fast her hair looked as
though it blazed behind her to Christian. *My God, but she's beautiful* He
thought to him- self.
	"Hey, watch i--" Before Daniel could finish his sentence Jesse
tongue had occupied his mouth.
	The doorbell rang and Christian felt *extremely* uncomfortable
now.  It rang again and he didn't know if he should interupt them, or get
the door himself. He opted to get it himself and then sneak out. To hell
with their bet. What were the chances that Brad was really in the house? 
But come to think of it, what were the chances that he'd run into a Daniel
with violet eyes?  Very strange.  He opened the door and there stood the
most incredible blonde he ever saw in his entire life. Only one word came
to his mind
	"God!" 

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 576: George

	Tom had obviously been working *way* too hard.  George knew all
the signs.  It had been like that for him when he had to do both ER and
From Dusk 'Til Dawn all at once.  After a while you start getting too
caught up in the characters' lives and time in the real world ceases to
have meaning.
	And speaking of time, he now had plenty of it to kill.  He looked 
over his room and decided that he could either spend his time reading the 
script or actually catching up on sleep.  He decided the script would 
always be there and could wait.
	A few hours? minutes? later there was a knock at his door.  He 
looked blearily at his watch, gave that up as an impossible task and 
rolled out of bed, opening the door and squinting a little to see a man 
with white hair and a blood-red shirt standing in front of him.  For the 
second time that day he saw a pair of eyes do a dip and roll to look at 
his tattoo before the vocal chords kicked in.
 	"George Clooney?" the man asked, clearing his throat.
 	George nodded, smiling a little. "Yeah, that's me. And you are...?"
	He saw the man blink a little, then grin, holding out his hand. 
	"Gordon Sumner. According to the new script, you get to set me on
fire one of these nights." 
	George snickered.  "I didn't know they were putting love scenes 
into this.  Or did I suddenly get recast as Nicholas?"
	Another few blinks, then a very genuine laugh.  "No," he said, 
the slight gravely nature to his voice brought out by the laughter.  
"I've been cast as Marius.  And you, from what I understand, are my one 
time enemy--"
	"Santino," George finished.  He looked the two of them over, then 
grinned broadly.  "And if I can't look evil and Satanic standing next to 
you, then it probably explains why I've yet to win an Emmy.  Come on in."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 577: Jesse

	Her fingers were tangled in his hair, her leg wrapped around his,
Daniel nealy lost his balance.
	"Umph... I was sooo ... mumph..." Jesse couldn't talk and kiss at
the same time, so she opted for the vampiric choice. *Daniel! Oh! GOD! I
was soo worried...* her mind breathed into hers.
	Daniel leaned against the wall and knocked the ornately carved 
coat tree to the floor. 
	*Jess... we've destroying property!* He laughed in reply. It felt
so good to have her wrapped around him once more.
	She drew back smiling to him. "I'm so glad to see you." 
	"Me too." He replied. 
	Jesse was about to renew the kiss when she saw a familiar looking
man gaping at Gabrielle.
	"Sweetie... who's that?" She whispered into Daniel's ear. His ear
looked so wonderful to her at that very moment, she decided to nibble on
it. 
	"Th.. that's Chr...issssstian Slllllaterrr." Daniel stuttered as
her tongue outlined the curve of his ear.
	Lifting her head, Jesse glanced at the profile. "Oooohhh." She
kissed Daniel's earlobe and tugged on it slightly with her teeth. "Where
did you find him?" 
	"I ran into him at the hotel... listen, Jess... WHOA! Don't DOOO
that...  could we go somewhere private... and talk?" He kissed her where
he hoped her cheek would be. 
	"Just... talk?" She asked, lowering her voice and grinning. 
	"Well... to start." He said. "Let's see if you still want to talk
to me when we're finished." 
	"Oh. Serious, huh?" Jesse said softly. 
	"Yeah." 
	A long sigh escaped her lips. Her cool breath crossed his neck and
Daniel shivered. 
	"I guess we could go up to my room..." Jesse threaded her fingers
through Daniel's and she led him up the stairs. 

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 578: Sting

	Tom Cruise was going to be the bane of his entire experience in
this film, but George seemed nice enough at first glance and certainly not
as full of himself as Tom. It occured to him as he entered the room that
it would have been much easier on him personally if they had cast the two
men into the opposite roles, never minding looks. Tom as Santino... yes,
he could project the perfect amount of emotion into the role of Marius
given THAT to act off of. 
	The thought made him smile and George returned the expression as
he sat on the bed, Sting taking the chair that Tom had used earlier. His
expression also asked the silent question of why he was being visited at
all and Sting got to that subject first. "I just stopped by to say hello."
He smiled. "At least put a face to a name before we have to start
rehersals together. That, and to find out if you know anything about the
seeming cast get together tonight..." he let his voice trail off
expressively, shrugging a little. "Tom mentioned it when I saw him
earlier." 

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 579: Lestat

	"Say the word, Lestat and I'll be gone."
	Lestat blinked, the world forming into view again.  He looked up 
and found Louis looking at him expectantly.  He frowned a little.  "What?"
	Louis' eyes flickered.  "I... I'll go."
	Lestat frowned even harder, the memory of what had just happened 
to him starting to receede so fast he was no longer aware that he was 
forgetting something in the first place.  He got up from the bed 
anxiously.  "Go?  Louis... mon Dieu.  Why?"
	"I've hurt you."
	Lestat felt a twinge in his gut.  His voice was barely a whisper 
when he spoke.  "So have I."  He sank down onto the bed again, cradling 
his head in his hands.  "God, Louis.... I don't want to loose you.  
*Please*."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 580: Louis

	"So have I." Lestat sank down onto the bed again, cradling his
head in his hands.  "God, Louis.... I don't want to loose you. *Please*." 
	At once, Louis was kneeling in front of him. He reached out a
tentative hand and stroked the tangled blond mane. 
	"Lestat..." he whispered, "I can forgive you _anything_... I love
you. I love you still..."
	Gently, Louis removed Lestat's hands from the side of his head. He
let his fingers move lightly over his maker's face until they came to rest
under Lestat's chin. Lifting it slightly, Louis inched closer and covered
Lestat's mouth with his own. He felt Lestat's arms creep around him. Louis
drew back and touched his forehead to his lovers. 
	"I cannot bear being apart from you. I don't want it to end..." 

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 581: Lestat

 	"I cannot bear being apart from you. I don't want it to end..."
	Lestat felt a delicious shudder go through him at those words.  
Soft, his voice husky, he tried his best to reply.  "Then let's try, 
Louis.  I don't ask for it to become as it once was.  I don't even think 
we *want* what it once was.  I want it to be better.  Where no matter 
what the hurt or fear there is a trust between us so deep it is a part of 
our very souls.  And the word 'husband' means something that no other 
word can."  Lestat winced a little, thinking of the past.  "I know this 
won't happen overnight.  There's things I've yet to tell you which will 
test your faith in me, I know.  But all I ask is for the chance to prove 
that I can actually be worthy of you."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 582: Gabrielle

        "God."  the young man gaped in Gabrielle's face.
        She smiled.
        Thought once.
        Then, she proceeded with all the zealous possible to place a nice,
deep kiss on his lips, leaving Christan quite speechless. She patted him on
the shoulder,
        "Not God, my dear, that's my son. I'm more like Mary, not the
Virgin Mary, but Mary."
        Christian nodded in assent.
        "Good, I see you understand. My, are you another one of those
actors? I have a tendancy for overwhelming the poor things I see."
        Christian nodded dumbly again.
        Gabrielle laughed at the blank expression still gracing the
beautiful face. She hadn't felt this free in over a hundred years, no black
marks scarring her soul, just a clean slate, a new beginning to write. The
night smelled more invited, the moon shone brighter and the people had a
whole new vivaciousness when she looked into their eyes. She shook herself
from reverie and threaded her arm through Christan's and walked over the
threshold and closed the door tight behind her,
        "Now, what was your name, mon cher?"

________________________________________________________________________
Public Service Announcement:

Three cheers and a hearty welcome to Misha, who has taken up the
monumental task of helping to thread the backlog of Dagger posts...
Hooray!! Until further notice all sorting out of tangled posting and plot
lines are her work alone.  Brava, Misha!

We now return you to Dagger of the Mind, already in progress...

________________________________________________________________________
Post 583: Louis 

	"I know this won't happen overnight." Lestat said, "There's things
I've yet to tell you which will test your faith in me, I know.  But all I
ask is for the chance to prove that I can actually be worthy of you." 
	The soft, emotion-filled words were all Louis needed to hear. With
a sigh of relief, he laid his head against Lestat's chest and listened to
the beat of his heart. 
	"What's past is over and done. All I care about is this... being
here with you for all time, feeling your arms around me, knowing that you
still want me." Louis whispered. 
	"I only hope you will still feel that way..." Lestat began. 
	Louis lifted his face, a trace of a smile playing there, and
placed his fingertips against Lestat's lips. 
	"No now, Beloved. We shan't go into all the past hurts tonight. 
There will be time for that later..." 
	Lestat nodded. "What I want now is first a good hug... and then,
then I have such news..." He said. 
	Louis sat next to him on the bed and slipped his arms around
Lestat's body. 
	"There... That's the hug... although I've yet to have a kiss from
you, I'll be willing to wait until you tell me what happened last
night..."  The green eyes gazed expecantly into Lestat's face.

________________________________________________________________________ 
Post 584: Daniel
	
     Jesse lead, or rather dragged, Daniel up the stairs into her bedroom.
She flung him on the bed and pinned him there, planting kisses all over
his face. "Daniel take these sunglasses off, you look silly in them." She
laughed and moved to take them off, but was met by Daniel's hand. 
     "No, leave them on." 
     Jesse leaned back. "Why?  I want to see those beautiful violet
eyes of yours."  She giggled.
     "You're less apt to slug me if I'm wearing glasses." He said
gravely.
     "Daniel, that's ridiculas!"
     "Ridiculas that you'll slug me or ridiculas that you would
restrain yourself just because I'm wearing glasses?"
     Her voice turned from that of a seductress to a more serious
nature. "I'm not sure yet.  You want to tell me what's on your
mind?"
     "I'm not sure where to start." He said.
     "Why don't you start with why you ran out on us like you did.
And if you're not going to take those glasses off, you could at
least face in my direction."  
     "Oh, sorry"  Daniel slid up to the head of the bed and
attempted to face the area of the room where he heard Jesse's
voice. "I'm not sure why I ran out...That part of the night seems
so distant and vague now. It was something Pandora said, that much
I know. Or maybe it was something she did. Barging in on us...
Telling us we had to go with her. It's something...How can I put
this?  It was very Armand like, in the way that I didn't have a say
in the matter. That lead to other things and... Jesse, I still love
him!  I *had* to see him, to see if he still loved me. So I spent
the rest of the night with him.  So much has happened to him and
the coven, Jesse!  God, Armand and Marius are going to be married! 
Lestat and Armand have made peace!  And yes, Armand told me he
still loves me and that he wants me to come live with them...ALL of
them!  Armand, Marius, Lestat and Louis.  And Jesse,"  His words
became passionate and tinged with a bit of fear. "I told him that
I was in love with you too!  He told me, if you would join me, that
you would be welcome to live with us.  Would you Jesse?  Would you
join me?"   

________________________________________________________________________
Post 585: Chris

         "Good, I see you understand. My, are you another one of those
actors? I have a tendancy for overwhelming the poor things I see." 
 	Christian nodded, some where in the back of his mind he registered the
words "another one of those actors." The loss of the car still hadn't hit
him. He was mezmorized by her every action and movement. It's was as if
every little nuance and gesture was magic. She didn't even touch the
ground when she walked. Her armed locked with his and they moved into the
house. 
         "Not what was your name, mon cher?" 
	He had to shake himself to answer her. "Uh...Christian Slater, but
uh....you can just call me Chris." He looked around. Neither Daniel nor
the gorgeous red head where anywhere to be seen. *I can't beleive he just
left me!*
	"Don't you enjoy my company?" Gabrielle asked with a mishchevious
slime on her face. 
	Did he just think that out loud? "Oh yes...I was just wondering
where Danny went. Maybe I should go call him."
	"Nonsense, he'll be down in a little bit, sit and chat with me a
while." 

________________________________________________________________________
Post 586: Brad

     Brad's head turned toward the door of his room as he and Pandora
passed. Was Tony still in there? It was awfully quiet. Maybe he had
gone off anyway. Maybe he didn't want to talk to him after...after...
     Brad tried to push away the memories as he and Pandora made their
way down the long hall to the stairs. He tried to forget the feel of
Tony's kiss - of his incredible, fantastic, vampire's kiss.
     The bite had been nothing, nothing at all, compared to the blood!
     Brad closed his eyes for a minute, trusting Pandora to guide him.
He fought it, fought the shudder of remembered ecstasy that threatened
to overcome him and the memory of that magical liquid filling his
mouth.
     'Tony!' his mind cried out in anguish. His eyes flew open, but
remained unseeing.
     He loved his friend with all his heart, and was now afraid of him
as well - afraid of the promise of eternity embodied in that kiss. He
had nearly lost himself in the passion of it, in the feel of those
inhumanly strong hands moving over his body, pressing him against his
already hardening flesh. The flood of desire from Tony's thoughts
alone had threatened to swamp him, and the addition of the liquid
essence of Tony's very being had done him in. Then, when he felt the
savage plunge of the fangs into his throat he knew he had to fight, he
had to fight for his very life.
     He'd tried...that's what he'd said to Pandora in the bathroom.
Brad laughed out loud, and it was not his usual happy, carefree
chortle. Would they put on his grave stone? 
     He *had* tried - but the sheer ecstacy of it, feel of Tony's lips
against his throat had driven away all else. His own body had betrayed
his fight and he'd responded in an instant, with the same intensity it
had taken all Tom's skill and considerable effort to produce. He had
not won his fight. He had been pardoned from it, released by his
friend who had sought to show him what he was "giving up." 
     Tony said he'd done the same to Tom...would the time he and Tom
spend together now be spent trying to recapture the feel of a
vampire's kiss? Had the tender thing growing between them been reduced
to ashes?
     'Oh, Thomas, where are you?' Brad wished for him with all his
heart. 'I need to see you, to hear your voice!'
     "Thomas!" Brad whispered.

________________________________________________________________________
Post 587: Pandora

     Pandora listened with regret to the tortured thoughts of the
young mortal at her side. He struggled with the reality of being loved
by a vampire. He was finally realizing that that is what Antonio is
now. A vampire. A lonely, newly made vampire trying to find his way
through the everlasting night that threatened to claim his mind, as it
already had claimed his body.
     Antonio, with his passionate nature, would be very lucky indeed
to escape the darkness of the mind. So many of them had not. She had
not, Marius had not, ancient Khayman had not - even their Brat,
Lestat, had not managed to escape the smothering hand of darkness that
always pressed at the corners of all of their consciousness.
     Only a few managed to fight it, with varying degrees of success,
and keep their eyes open and their sanity intact against the torturing
passage of time. No way to know who would manage such a feet. Maharet,
Armand, Louis... all so very different, incredibly different, but
whatever the reason - fear, determination, apathy - they faced time
head on. 
     But asleep or awake they had all survived. Many were not able to,
even after choosing the long sleep. They grew mad and killed
themselves - or had to be destroyed.
     Her thoughts briefly touched on a certain mad vampire and his
cult of worshipers high in the mountains. Antonio had such power, such
charisma in him. He could very well fall into that trap. And how would
this gentle soul beside her react to that? She should tell him, let
him see as she had seen first hand, what this life could be like. That
would frighten him more that the ecstacy of the blood could.
     Pandora flinched at the harsh, grating sound of Brad's laughter,
every trace of gentle good humor gone from it. He was being destroyed,
little by little, and there was nothing any could do to stop it. It
had begun the first time Antonio drank from him, and now that he had
tasted the blood he was doomed to either death or madness.
     Already his mind scrambled frantically after the memory of his
mortal lover's embrace - an embrace he'd thought was beyond anything
he could ever experience elsewhere. 
     He'd just been shown how wrong he could be.
     ::Oh, Thomas, where are you?:: Brad wished for his lover with all
his heart. ::I need to see you, to hear your voice!::
     "Thomas!" Brad whispered.
     "Easy child, he comes for you." Pandora sent soothing thoughts to
the boy's mind - cheating, interfering, she knew, but she had to take
away some of that pain! She knew she was adding to his doom by doing
such a thing, but she would not see him driven mad by his association
with them. She would do what she could, even taking away his rightful
pain, to ease his troubles for just this moment.
     He had suffered enough tonight. Now he would have some fun or she
would demand a accounting from *everyone* who sought to trouble him! 
     A wild, feral light lit Pandora's eyes as she tightened her arm
around Brad's waist.
     No one else would hurt him tonight!
     He had relaxed considerably at her words, as if that obnoxious
child racing to get to him could solve all his problems! Pandora shook
her head in wry amusement. Ah, to be young and in love again!
     Or just to be in love again...
     She snorted in disgust at her own brief melancholy. What maudlin
nonsense! There was to be dancing tonight!! Dancing with gorgeous
young men!!! She smiled at Brad and drew him down the stairs.
     "As soon as your lover..."
     "Uh, Pan, we'd kind of like to keep that quiet..." Brad
stammered, blushing deeply. "I don't mean to offend, but if you
wouldn't..."
     "Oh, very well!" Pandora kept her amusement at their poor
subterfuge creep into her voice. Anyone with half a brain who saw them
together would figure it out instantly! "As soon as your Thomas..."
     "Um, could you loose the "your" part too?" Brad asked hopefully.
     Pandora gritted her teeth and began again.
     "As soon as *TOM* gets here, we ca..."
     "*CRIS*?!!!" Incredulity and a touch of fear showed in Brad's
voice as he spotted the young man Daniel had brought home with him and
left standing in the hall. Brad tore himself away from her and raced
down the stairs toward the young man.
     Pandora grinned at Gabrielle who'd been giving the boy the eye
when they'd started down the stairs.
     ::He's too young for you, Gabby!::
     ::Listen who's talking. I'm not the one upstairs dressing my own
personal life-sized Ken Doll!::
     Pandora laughed out loud, glad to see her friend at last.
     ::Say, Gabby. Aren't you a bit old to be having children?::
Pandora smirked as she sauntered up to Gabrielle, leaving Brad to the
reunion with his friend.
     ::I take it you're referring, with your usual delicacy I might
add, to Antonio?::
     ::The one and only. He's here you know, being chastised by our
very own Mr. Chips. I tell you Gabby if we don't do something to stop
it, that one will be as pompous and irritating as Marius soon. Thank
God they've stopped fu...::
     ::Pandora!:: Gabrielle cut her off. ::Why is David chastising
Antonio? What's happened?::
     ::Not much really,:: Pandora shrugged, her eyes going to Brad for
a moment. ::He's only be behaving like your other son - in other words
like a reckless idiot!:: She smiled to take the sting out of her
words. It wasn't Gabby's fault that Lestat was such a royal pain in
the ass!

________________________________________________________________________
Post 588: Gabrielle

        Pandora's smile did nothing to take the sting out of her words,
        :: Please don't give me quotes from your nonexistant handbook on
parenting Pandora. :: Gabrielle smiled sweetly, ::Or maybe you'll be
writing your first chapter with Monsiuer Pitt over there. You seem to
enjoy his company so.:: 
        Pandora smiled cruelly in response, ::Hardly, darling, that is
what your own Antonio is up to. Playing with mortal's minds, you have not
instructed him well. Not that ever followed Dr. Spock's book on child
rearing. :: 
        Gabrielle looked away from Pandora, her remark hitting Gabrielle's
heart. She was no parent, that she knew, and she was not going to pretend. 
Regaining her composure she smiled at Pandora,
        "Well, Pandy, would you like to break up 'Mr. Chip's' lecture up
there with me or can you politely point out the way?" 

________________________________________________________________________
Post 589: Jesse

	Daniel's words became passionate and tinged with a bit of fear. "I
told him that I was in love with you too!  He told me, if you would join
me, that you would be welcome to live with us.  Would you Jesse?  Would
you join me?"  "You love me? You still love me? Ooooh, Danny!" Jesse
launched herself at him, covering his face with kisses. The sunglasses
were sent flying as Daniel tumbled over on top of her. 
	*You aren't going to belt me?* He whispered into her mind as he
returned her passionate kisses. 
	*What for? Running off? Why would I do that?* she giggled against
his neck. 
	"No..." he said softly against her cheek, "For loving Armand. I
can't stop! But I love you..." 
	"Why should I be mad about you loving your maker? You loved him
for years before he brought you over." Jesse settled against Daniel,
feeling happy and secure once more with his arms around her. "You are his
only child... the only fledling he ever made...Armand loves you very
much." she said, wistfully. "I love Maharet... I'd do _anything_ for her."
Jesse sighed and snuggled in closer, taking Daniel's hand in hers and
kissing each fingertip. "You don't mind about that, do you?" 
	"Nope." Daniel sighed, closing his eyes. "You will come and live
with me?" 
	Jesse raised herself on her elbow."For as long as you want me..." 
She pressed a long, lingering kiss on his mouth. She leaned back onto her
elbow and smiled at him. "and Daniel... I'm hell to get rid of, so very
determinded when I want something... and I want to be with you..." 
	Daniel opened his eyes and smiled. "That's all I wanted to ..." 
	He was interrupted by a shriek erupting from Jesse. 
	"Danny! What in God's name happened to your eyes!!!" 

________________________________________________________________________
Post 590: Marius

	There was something almost sinfully pleasurable and intimate about
watching a loved one sleep. 
	Marius had woken to the darkness of their room in the St. Anne and
the comfortable weight of Armand nestled into his arms. He had switched
the light on with a mental touch, dimming it to a soft glow so as to not
disturb his fiance... 
	Gods, the very concept. It fell strange to think it, stranger
still to say it. "Mi fidanzato," his whispered softly. A slow smile
touched his lips. "Mi marito..." 
	He had curled back against Armand, holding him gently and just
watching him sleep, the vulnerable relaxation stripping all the years from
him until it was once again a mere child of seventeen which he held in his
arms. Amadeo... no longer to be child, but equal now, lover and soon to be
husband. And taking his place... a small shiver went through Marius as the
events of the past nights played out before his mind's eye. Lestat de
Lioncourt. "Mon fils..." 
	As though the shiver somehow communicated itself through them,
Armand gave a small start and woke, all motion stilling for a moment as he
took stock of his surroundings. Marius waited until the dark eyes had
turned towards him, then smiles warmly, leaning down to press a gentle
kiss to his cheek. "Good evening, mi Amadeo." 
	Armand blinked a little, eyes slightly wide. Marius didn't blame
him. The memory of the past night had probably abruptly caught up to him,
and he knew from his own experience that it took a few moments to get used
to. And then a rather slow, hesitant smile spread over his lips, though
his eyes were still rather distant, almost bemused. "Padrone," he said
softly, then shook his head slightly. "Dear God... it wasn't a dream, was
it?" 
	"Not unless we had the same one," Marius replied gently. He laid
back, tugging Armand easily down into his arms. "How are you?" 
	"Fine," came the immediate response, then a slight chuckle. 
"Better than fine. Stunned. Shocked. Amazed." 
	"All of the above," Marius agreed, hugging him slightly. He
nuzzled his cheek slightly against the silk soft curls, breathing in the
light scent with a warm feeling of contentment that he had rarely known. 
Something nagged at the back of his mind, though... 
	Oh. Gently, not pushing the subject, "Did your talk with Daniel go
well?"