RPG SPEC: Dagger of the Mind
Sequel to "Hollywood Vampires"
Parts 66-68, Posts 651-680		
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Post 651: Sting 

	Back in the limo once again, headed off to one of the more 
notorious clubs in New Orleans.  And seated across from the apparent 
owner, who was certainly a great deal more decorative then George, at 
least to his own mind.
	Now, if he wasn't feeling so terribly uneasy, Sting thought to 
himself, this situation would be next to ideal.
	Pan was smiling at both of them and George couldn't seem to pull 
his eyes off of her.  Which was more than understandable... Sting was 
more then mildly appreciative of her sleek curves that were only barely 
covered by the dress she wore.  Taken at first glance, Pan was a stunning 
woman and an outrageous flirt, but neither of those could in any way be 
taken as marks against her.  
	He sat back firmly in his seat, smile and good manners pasted 
firmly in place, and tried desperately to figure out why her eyes made 
the skin along the back of his neck crawl.
	It wasn't just that she tended to eye both men like large pieces 
of candy... that was flattering, in a way.  But there was something else 
in her eyes that just set off little sparks of sheer warriness in him.  
It made him feel like the fox with the hunting dogs baying after his 
heels.  It made him really wish he was anywhere else BUT sitting across 
from her.  He just couldn't place exactly what it was, yet.
	So, until he could, he kept the feeling firmly in check and 
smiled at her, mustering every ounce of English charm that he could and 
being just as politely friendly as possible.

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 652: David

	Finally alone. David breathed a sigh of relief as the limos drove off
for the night's promise of mischief and calamity. Brad would be okay, Antonio
wouldn't have a try at him again tonight.  All he had to do was survive 
Pandora's night club and he would be fine for the night. Jesse was there,
she would see to that, if she could get her eyes off Daniel. And Pandora...
well, she had taken to a deep affection toward Brad too. It was time for
him to relax and have the place to himself...maybe read or work on some old
Talamascan files.
	And then it came.
	He had not escaped.
	It was Pandora, demanding that he not stand her up again.
	Avoiding confrontaion was this nights goal, he complied to her
wishes and joined her in the limo with two other humans...Tweed coat and all.
He would go out with them, but he would be damned if he let her dress him!
What she had done to poor Daniel a few nights ago!  There would be no
repeat of that while David still had his senses!

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Post 653: Pandora

	Pandora suddenly activated the intercom to the driver.
	"Stop, driver! Radio the other limo's to wait for just a
moment..."
	She released the door locks and stretched across the George
mortal and opened the door. As she balanced on one toe in her lean to
peer out of the door she knew that her garters and lacy stocking tops
were displayed to nearly their best advantage. She also knew that her
pearly flesh appeared taunt and succulently firm - and that *she*
displayed incredible balance and flexibility! These attributes were
hers before her making, and in her heyday she had been
much...admired...for her contortionistic skills.
	Those mortal skills were child's play to what she could
accomplish as a vampire!
	Pandora smiled at the ragged in-drawn breath from her seat
partner and the rapidly increasing pulse rates of both her limo
companions. Tonight promised to be quite entertaining - if she could
get her straggler in without too much hoopla!
	"David!" she said out loud for the mortal's benefit, "We almost
left you. Come on, you're holding up the show!"
	She added for his "ears" alone, ::Haul ass out here right now,
David Talbot! Don't make me come and get you!!! I let you slide last
night, but tonight is my show. Nobody stands me up twice!:: She gave
him a mental goose, and a image of his trouser legs suddenly imitating
match sticks being held upside down.
	David arrived at the limo door in seconds.
	Pandora moved out of his way, and "accidently" fell into George's
lap.
	"Oh! How clumsy of me!" she smiled at him sweetly, with not a
fang tooth to be seen. "I'm sooo sorry George," she murmured. She
wanted to blush for him, but she hadn't fed near enough to accomplish
that feat. Hell's Bells, she was barely even warm! She settled for
scooting and rolling off him, managing in the process to get her hands
on most of his body parts.
	She looked at David and Gordon. Both British gentlemen were
horribly flushed and embarrassed. She laughed out loud, managing just
in time not to show her fangs.
	She slapped at the intercom panel and barked an order.
	"Drive!"

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Post 654: David

	He watched her throw herself at the mortal man... laughing, giggling...
No wonder he had taken to men. 
	Another man sat next to David, he looked at him sympathetically.
"Sorry."  the man said quietly. "I should introduce myself."
	"Oh my God!"  David said.
	"Yes, I'm him."  said the man.
	"You're British!"  David exclaimed, excited to finially have some
company from his native home!  Oh yes, there would be plenty to talk about
with this one! 

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Post 655: Sting

	Sting smiled and politely shook hands with the man, introducing 
himself.  "You're another of the consultants, yes?"
	The man - he wasn't really all that old, perhaps early twenties, 
and the dignified air and suit and tie brought forth vivid visions of 
Oxford, or private colleges of some sort - looked a little startled but 
recovered quickly.  "Consultants? Oh, yes, for the film.  Yes, of course."
	Sting nodded.  "For which part?"
	"Which part of what?"
	Backtrack and untangle themselves. "What is it that you do? I'm 
sorry, but I'm afraid I don't really understand what the role of the 
consultants is in this film."  He smiled to indicate that this was his 
failing, not a slight at his companion. 
	"Oh!"  The man, who had yet to give Sting his name, looked 
slightly flustered. "Yes, well... historical accuracy, characterization, 
that sort of thing, I imagine..."
	"Ah, I see," Sting said. He dropped the smile, assuming a more 
business like mode. "So you and Ms. Pan would answer questions like... 
oh... well, take my part, for instance.  Marius.  The man is a Roman, he 
grew up speaking Latin, he spent time in Italy and Greece and probably a 
great many other places.  What sort of accent would he have?"

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Post 656: George

	Well this... was interesting.  One moment he's in a hotel room 
with the man about to play his vampire enemy and the next he's in a limo 
with a woman who was, to all appearances, Satanica Pandemonium in the flesh.
	And what lovely flesh it was!
	George tried to get Sting's eye to give him a wink.  So *this* is 
what Tom had meant by "consultants".  Well, if the movie was to start 
with a Charlie Sheen Special, who was George to argue?
	George watched as Pandora "accidentally" leaned over him and 
oh-so-casually landed in his lap.  Grinning, he slipped an arm around 
her.  "You know, you really *should* sit still.  We're almost there and 
we can't have you getting hurt now, can we?  After all, I only play a 
doctor on TV.... and on certain special occasions but perhaps we'll get 
into that later."

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Post 657: Pandora

	Pandora fixed the young actor with a sultry smile. Her eyes
blazed into his until she knew he couldn't move without her
permission.
	"No, Georgie. I think perhaps we'll go into that right now," she
whispered huskily. "Let me share a little secret with you, you
handsome young piece of meat..."
	Pandora leaned into him as if to whisper in his ear. Her long,
fine boned fingers came up and turned his face inward to cover her own
face and block the sight of her going into is neck from view. She
stifled her own groan as the rich, warm fluid filled her mouth but
could not stifle his shuddery in-drawn breath.
	Her fingers left his cheek and drifted down the side of his neck,
coming to rest inside the loose collar of his shirt. The pounding of
his heart throbbing against her fingertips as well as in her veins. As
his few years on the planet unfolded behind her closed eyes, she
understood all his once his casual manner and slight, but expertly
concealed arrogance.
	His smoothness and easy, persuasive manner would serve him
well in his portrayal of a certain sexy, dark haired former coven
master. The underlying arrogance and strength of will would serve as
well, for Santino had many, many strengths that few besides herself
recognized. He was intelligent, passionate and quick witted. He had
controlled his flock and kept them all relatively content and filled
with purpose for centuries.
	Yes, this young one would do nicely...
	::Pandora!! You mustn't kill him!:: David sent frantically.
	Pandora withdrew immediately. She had been drifting, lost in the
memories of her past. She quickly sealed the wounds and checked the
boy's condition.
	He would live. In fact he would only be a little bit light
headed. She'd feed him when she got him to the club. But for right
now...
	She slipped off his lap and quickly fixed him a screwdriver made 
mostly of orange juice with just a splash of vodka to make him think
he was drinking.
	"Drink up, George," she said sweetly, releasing him from her
control. She took his hand and wrapped it carefully around the glass.
Giving his elbow a little push, she started the glass moving toward
his mouth.

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Post 658: Lestat

       ::Good evening yourself, young one.  It's good to hear you in such
humor. <Love> Now, what is this about a party?  What ARE you dragging us
into?:: 
	Lestat could not help the smile that spread across his face at 
the feel of Marius's voice in his mind.  He found himself sending faint 
waves of love to the older vampire without even really thinking about 
it.  It occured to him to wonder if newborn children were like this with 
*their* parents too.  In his best, most indignant Brat Prince demeanor, 
he replied.  ::*I* am not dragging anyone into anything!  Least of all my 
naked father and brother.  But if you and Armand are willing to have 
company I think a party would be a perfect place.  Besides, how else am I 
to show off my new family to both the coven and mortals everywhere? 
<<*LOVE*>>::

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Post 659: Louis

	Louis watched the expressions flicker across Lestat's face. How his grey 
eyes shown with affection. Louis slipped his arm around Lestat's waist and gave 
him a slight squeeze.
	Lestat blinked, bringing his mind back to the figure at his side. 
Turning to Louis, he pulled his lover into his arms and rubbed his cheek against 
 Louis'.
	"You're very happy, aren't you?" Louis whispered.
	Lestat drew back and nodded. "Oui. Very happy."  
	Affectionately touching Lestat's cheek, Louis smiled. "This is what I 
have always wished for you."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 660: David

	David looked a Pandora for a moment, she was still fawning over
George. ::Consultants, huh?::  Pan simply nodded. ::Wonderful.:: "So you're
the man whose going to play Marius. Sorry, I'm a bit startled, I was under the
impression that it was going to be Jeremy Irons. It's probably a good thing
that they got someone else."  David thought back to the night, oh so long
ago, when Marius had stood him up to watch Jeremy Irons. DAvid let out a 
deep sigh and refocused his attention back on Gordon. "Yes, I could help you
out with you're accent. Lets hear what you have so far and I could tell you
where you're wrong. I'm a bit of a linguist, I can usually tell all the places
a person has lived and how long, by the sounds they pick up in their speech.
So if... say... Marius, lived in Rome for a few centuries and then moved to
Venice... France... Spain... There would not only be a change in the sound of
his accent, but a broad mixture of old and new words from the passage of
centuries. That's more of what I have to work on with the writers instead of
you, but since you're the one that has to carry it off, it's good for you to
know too.
	"So let's hear it."

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Post 661:Sting 

	Alright.  He had called the young man's bluff, and now his own 
was being called.  Fair enough.
	The smile stayed in place but became more distant, a very minimal 
expression.  He went still, dropping into place the attitude he had been 
working on non-stop for hours already that day, a composite made from 
every nuance he could glean from the written page.  Still, and ancient, 
and almost horrifying but still *human*, reflected only in the eyes which 
gleamed with the same distant humor of the smile.  Dropping his voice 
down just a little he slipped into the accent he had created, partially 
Continental, partially Italian, pronouncing each word with care that made 
it seem not so much deliberate as just a different manner of speaking.
	"You are the damndest creature, young one."

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Post 662:Marius

	Marius managed, by force of will, to keep from laughing outright 
at Lestat's reply. ::<HUMOR> We are not 'naked', mon fils, simply not 
quite ready to go out yet...:: He paused, glancing down, and stifled 
another laugh, meeting Armand's inquisitive eyes. ::No, never mind. Taken 
literally, you said it correctly. <HUMOR/affection> Your 'naked father' 
is not ready to go much of anywhere, though I could be given a few 
minutes, and your brother, who is at least wearing a robe, would still 
not make it very far down the street, I am afraid.  And... A party?  With 
mortals? Just a moment, I will find out...::
	Marius leaned down, dropping a kiss against Armand's still damp 
curls.  "Lestat says it is to be a party with mortals, of all things, but 
he wishes to go and would like us to come if we are willing.  I don't 
mind.  Do you?"

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Post 663: Armand

	Armand raised an eyebrow yet again.  "Mortals?  He truly wishes 
to go to this thing?"
	"Apparently so.  To mingle, and to show us off a bit, from what I 
understand."
	He was faintly horrified at how much the idea suddenly appealed 
to him.  Armand and Lestat, side by side, showing the world that they 
were together at long last.  Oh yes... "Yes.  Lets."  He leaned up, 
kissing Marius briefly.  "Tell Lestat I'll even dress for the occasion."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 664: Marius 

	Marius released Armand as his lover pulled away with a small
smile. ::Lestat,:: he sent lightly, ::we appear to be going with you.  
Give us a few moments to change and then come over, by all means.::
	Armand was rustling through the contents of the dresser and 
closet.  Marius went to join him, unable to resist slipping an arm about 
his waist and dropping a light kiss along his shoulder as he leaned past 
Armand to retrieve a pair of black jeans from the open drawer.  Armand 
smiled at him, though he frowned a little at Marius' choice.  "Jeans?  
Marius, you should dress up a little."
	Marius smiled back, pausing to kiss him lightly again.  "I *am*," 
he protested with a slight grin.  "These are new.  They are not worn, and 
have no rips."  Armand snorted, rolling his eyes slightly, and Marius 
turned away with a soft laugh.
	He hadn't lied.  The jeans were new, new enough that they 
required a bit of work to slide into and fit like a second skin once on.  
His boots laced comfortably over them and a soft linen poet's shirt in a 
rich wine red was the first thing to come to hand from the closet, 
completing the required dressing with a minimum of fuss or bother.  
Marius raked back his hair, fluffing it out slightly to dry the last of 
it, then turned to Armand.  "Lestat should be here shortly," he began. 
"Are you rea..." He trailed off, just taking in the sight.  His voice 
came out as a slow, thoroughly appreciative whisper. "Oh *my*....."

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Post 665: Armand
	
	Just the reaction he was hoping for.  Armand was tempted to halt 
the evening right there - it was too rare that the two of them were this 
happy and together.  Marius' startled gasp at his appearance added an 
additional sparkle to his eyes, deepened his seductive smile.  He wore 
dark slacks and boots as he usually did, but the shirt was of fine, dark 
green silk.  The color brought out every subtle shade in his hair, which 
cascaded over his shoulders like a tumbling waterfall.  And the style 
harkend back to times long before.  The image gazing back at him from his 
mirror was a perfect cross of "Complete Innocence" and "Wanton Sensuality".
	"So," he purred, eyes half lidded, "where are we going?"

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 666: Jesse

	"WAIT A MINUTE!!!" 
	Jesse leaned over and commandeered the steering wheel from Chris. "We 
don't want to get lost... here... get between the Limos... I don't care what 
Pandy said, I want to arrive with the gang!"
	"For Chrissake!" Chris tried to shove the redhead back onto Danny's lap. 
"Do you want to drive?"
	Jesse draped her arms around Danny's neck once more. "Are you kidding?" 
She giggled. "You'd look silly on my Sweetie's lap!"
	"Watch what you're doin, Jess... you're leg's out the window." Daniel 
reminded her.
	"Oh... yes... I thought it was a little drafty..." Jesse tickled 
Daniel's chin and laughed again. "I didn't take the window out, did I?"
	"No." He smiled and kissed her.
	"Don't you two ever quit?" Chris stole a glance at the smooching couple.
	"We try not to." Danny replied.
	"Stop? Why? I might lose my place." Jesse giggled. "Then I would have to 
start all over again."
	"So..." Chris followed behind one of the limos, making sure there was 
just enough room to brake fast. "How long have you two been together?"
	"A thousand lifetimes." Daniel smiled into the apple-green eyes.
	"Oooooh! That is soooo sweet! And to think we can be together forever!" 
Jesse sighed.
	"If we're careful..." Danny answered, grinning.
	"And if I don't bore you..." Jesse cooed.
	"You could never bore *any* one!" Danny kissed the tip of her nose.
	"Uuhhhhh, excuse me... but do you mind if we swing by a drug store?" 
Chris asked. "I'm gonna need a BIG dose of INSULIN to get through the evening if 
I'm going to hang out with you guys..."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 667: Daniel 

	Jesse and Daniel stared at each other for a moment and then broke out
laughing. "Are we *that* bad?"  Jesse asked. 
	"Yeah, a *TAD*" Chris confirmed. He looked in the rear view mirror
and noticed the second limo screech to a complete stop, make an illegal
u-turn, and head back to the house. "Something must be wrong, you wanna
go back and see what it is?"
	"Nah."  Daniel waved it off. "Pan probably forgot some frilly shinny
object that goes with her dress. Hey Jesse!  We finially get to see her at
her old job!" 
	"Yeah!  I almost forgot about that!  Well this ought to be something!"
Jesse grinned.
	Chris turned to them, "What?  Come on, help me out here, what did she
used to do?"  
	Daniel smiled a wicked smile to Jessica. ::Mr. Slater seems quite
taken with Pandora.::
	::Yes, he does. Why are you smiling like that Danny?::
	Chris' eye's kept shifting from the road to the happy couple. "What
did she do?"  
	Daniel faced Chris again and said rather manner-of-factly, "Chris,
Pan is a former Disco Queen."
	"Disco!" Chris grimaced. she was certainly too young for the hey day 
of Disco! "Well, who am I to judge, right?  I mean, it could be worse... I 
mean,"  He let out a little laugh, "She could be a drag Queen, or somethng
ridiculas like that." Daniel put his head down and made a silent communication
with Jesse  ::Oh, you have to go with this!!::  Jesse simply turned her head
and stared out the window. Niether willing to make eye contact with Chris.
	Chris started to become uneasy, why did they suddenly shut up?
"So what's the deal? Are you telling me that Pan is *actually* some kinda
drag queen?"
	"Not technically." Jesse said.
	"No." Daniel added "Since the operation 'she's' just a Disco Queen
now."  ::Kiss me before I start into a laughing fit:: Jesse complied.
Chris thought for a moment of Pan's electric kiss...of his arousal, of his
desire...of the tree...OF THE TREE!!  
	Jesse flung herself over to the wheel and spun the chevy out of
immediate harms way and directly into the arms of another kind of harm,
which was on coming traffic.

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 668: Brad

	Brad settled back into the soft supple leather of the limousine's
interior. The quiet settled around him like a soft blanket. All he
wanted right now was to go into Tom's arms and rest there, to feel the
strength of him, the tight comforting hold that whispered, "Nothing
can touch you while I'm around," to his soul.
	There was this trembling inside him, resulting from Tony's
"lesson" that wouldn't subside. It made him want to burrow into Tom's
arms and hide.
	"I don't want to die," Brad whispered at the pale shadow of his
reflection in the window.
	"What?" Tom murmured, bringing his hand up to rest his hand on
his thigh.
	Brad turned toward him and did go into his arms. He settled there
as if he were coming home.
	"Brad, lover, what is it? You've been upset since I got back to
the house! What happened?" Tom put a firm hand under his chin and
tilted his head back so that he could see his face.
	"Kiss me!" Brad demanded. He wanted to feel that amazing
sensation, that sweet caress, that simple *human* feeling of flesh
against flesh, and emotion that was communicated through touch alone.
He wanted to feel it, and revel in it, as much as possible before it
was lost to him.
	Tom knew he was deflecting the question, and for a second he
refused to be sidetracked, but Brad just held his gaze until with a
softly uttered curse, Tom covered his mouth with his own. Brad sighed
as a bit of the tightness, a bit of the tension inside him, lessened. 
Tom, with a uncanny sense, seemed to know that he needed comfort more 
than sex right now, and kissed him gently.
	"Lover, you have to tell me when something is wrong," Tom whispered 
in his ear. Please trust me!" Tom held him tighter still, his poweful arms
tightening around him, his whole *self* seemed to envelope him as if he 
would shield him from the world with his body.
	Brad smiled and touched Tom's cheek with gentle fingers. "I will
tell you, Thomas, but not now - later, after we've made love and are
cuddling in my bed." Brad kissed the corners of Tom's mouth, smiling
as Tom turned his head sharply to capture his lips again. Despite his
best intentions, after a moment they were stretched out across the
seat of the limo. His shirt had become completely undone and freed
from the waistband of his pants.
	"Tom!" Brad gasped as his lover's mouth moved over him. "We don't
know where we're going or when we'll get there. We could stop any
minute....and...and...AH!" Brad gasped sharply as Tom palmed his
erection through the thin leather of his pants and squeezed.
	"Hush now. Let me take care of you." Tom murmured against his
belly. He raised his head for a moment and his face took on a look of
intense concentration. "Pandora assures me that we have enough time,
and that I should go ahead with what I'm doing..." Tom grined at him
and unfastened the hideously expensive belt Pandora had secured around
his waist.
	"Your suit will get wrinkled!" Brad choked out. Tom just laughed
and slowly unziped his pants.
  	   "Don't worry about my suit. I won't get mussed - and I won't
spill a single drop..." with a wicked glint in his eyes Tom moved down
and took him into his mouth. The night, the passing sights, the whole
world outside the limousine disappeares as the warm, wet depths of his
lover's mouth transports him out of himself and surrounds his heart
and soul with bliss.

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 669: David 

	"You are the damndest creature, young one."
	David erupted in laughter "That's perfect!  Oh, young man, I wouldn't
change a thing!  That's exactly how he-- er, that's just how I imagine Marius
would say it!  You still have a little lilt in you're tone that's distinctly
British, but only serves to add quality."  He leaned a little closer as if
to tell Gordon a secret. "But that's a bias of mine. A little splash of the 
Empire is always good in any occasion. The American audiences *love* it!"
He winked at the singer and leaned back against the seat.

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 670: Sting 

	Sting relaxed back into his former smile and pose, the smile now
holding a bit of a glint.  Regardless of who the man was, consultant or
otherwise, it was good to get feedback of some sort.  On the other hand...
'young man'?  That sounded horribly out of place when the man uttering it
couldn't be more than 25.  Sting was starting to feel as though the smile
he had assumed would be firmly cemented in place by the end of the
evening, a polite expression to hide a growing uneasiness. "Well, of
course they do," he replied lightly.  "The Americans butcher the
language."
	The young man smiled.  He had an engaging smile, really; he 
should use it more often, instead of trying to look so dignified and 
twice his own age.  'Young man'... and his entire bearing was either that 
of dignified and inherited wealth and power, or actual old world, earlier 
half of the century charm.
	None of this solved his curiosity, it only made it worse.  "How
many of you are there?" he asked.  "Consultants, I mean.  You, Mrs. Pan, I
assume the lovely young blonde woman who was speaking to Mr. Banderas...
How many others?  And do each of you specialize in one area?  Language,
history, that sort of thing?"  He smiled apology.  "I'm sorry, it must
sound rude of me, but I'm just terribly curious." And NONE of this, he 
thought to himself, fits.  None of it at all.  Unless one was willing to 
look at some pretty far-fetched notions...

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 671: Brad

	He came back to himself as Tom was gently fastening him into his
clothes again. Only minutes had passed, but it seemed an eternity.
Incredibly attuned to him, Tom felt his awareness sharpen and looked
up from his task and into his eyes.
	"Don't," Tom whispered. "Don't look at me like that, or I *will*
ruin this suit!" He laughed shakily as he did up the last button with
faintly trembling fingers. Brad sat up and took Tom's face in his
hands.
	"We can't have that, now can we. You must be your impeccably
groomed self at all times." Brad kissed him deeply, his tongue probing
for the last traces of his own essence in Tom's mouth. "But this, I
think," he growled, grabing the hard bulge ruining the fit of Tom's
trousers, "might become a problem..." 
	Tom groaned, his mouth now pressed against Brad's throat.
	"Brad! Lover, please... I'm not kidding. I'm going to come right
in my pants if you don't stop!"
	"I can't leave you like this," Brad whispered huskily against
Tom's ear. He unziped the fly and dipped his hand inside, grasping the
pulsing hardness within, pulling it out into the warm, heated air of
the limo's interior. "From the feel of things, this should only take a
minute or two..." As Brad bent his head over Tom's lap, he paused and
looked up into the dusky green of his lover's gaze.
	"I promise not to spill a drop either."
	With a soft smile he bent to take his incredible, impossible
lover into his mouth and return some of the pleasure he has been so
freely given. Tom's groans filled the enclosed space, and even before he
could get a rhythm going, it's over.
	"I'm sorry," Tom whispered in a shaky voice. "It's just that I've
been wanting you so much already tonight... You were right - I won't
leave you to wake up alone again. I want to be there when you open
your eyes. I want to see and be the reason for your first smile of the
night - your beautiful, sexy smile..." As he finished tucking Tom back
into his pants and zipping him up, Tom pulled him into his arms and
kissed his hair, his face, and ran his hands down the blue silk that
covered his back.
	Brad sighed, and pulled Tom's face down so that their lips met
again. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he wanted the limousine
to just ride and ride, never stopping at all. It would be just the two
of them, talking and making love and the rest of the world could go to
Hell for all they cared!
	But it couldn't be that way. The world wasn't going anywhere, and no
amount of wishing could change that. Tom's own words about not leaving
him to wake up alone again had brought it all tumbling back upon him.
Brad sat up and pulled away from Tom and fixed them both a stiff drink
from the little bar. He passed Tom his drink, then took a deep swallow 
from his own, steeling his nerve.
	"Thomas.."
	"Hmmm?" Tom took up his hand and turned to face him slightly.
	Brad squeezed the fingers twined with his. 
	"I have to say this. I have to, because I'm afraid if I don't,
something will happen and I won't get the chance to..." Brad raiseed
their twined hands to his lips and kissed the back of Tom's hand. He
took a big gulp of his drink, and drew in a deep breath before
continuing in a rush.
	"I think I'm falling in love with you." 
	He could almost see the words form in the air as he said them. They
hung there like solid things...things with substance, and weight...things 
that, once said, could not be retrieved.
	"I don't know - it's so soon - but...I'm pretty sure..." He felt
light-headed and afraid to go on, but he forced himself. The thing 
with Tony tonight made him see that his life had swung very far out of 
his own control. 
	"I'm not trying to pressure you, or make you feel weird or
anything. I just feel like we're not going to have the time we need to
go slowly and discover how we feel at sensible pace. 
	"I don't feel sensible at all. *None* of this is sensible!" Brad 
broke off, and to his disgust found that he was trembling violently.
	"I don't want anything from you, Tom. I'm not asking for anything
that you can't give. I only wanted to tell you how I feel, and to
spend as much time with you as I can before something happens to one 
of us!"

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 672: Tom

	Tom felt his world gently rock.  Not from the drink in his hand 
or from  the potent, all too quick orgasm at the hands of his lover.  But 
those words.  The tone of his voice.  The look in his eyes when he 
spoke.  The trembling of his body when Tom moved to take him in his 
arms.  All these things told a story powerful enough to cause the 
foundations of his heart to tremble.
	"I understand." he said gently, willing the words to come out 
slow and clear, not wanting a single thing to spoil this for Brad.  "And 
thank you for... thinking of me.  Not wanting to pressure me."  He smiled 
a little.  Not the words Brad thought he'd hear.  Just wait.  "You don't 
want anything from me.  All right.  I accept that.  But what if I offered 
you a gift.  Would you accept it from me, my beautiful one?  Would you 
take my heart, if I gave it to you?  For it is yours."  He moved to take 
Brad's face in his hands, holding it gently, gazing into his eyes.  "I am 
so in love with you.  It frightens me.  I've never felt this before, I 
didn't intend to now.  But it's the truth."  His voice dropped into a 
husky whisper.  "I love you, William Bradley.  And whatever time we have 
left... before it all comes down around us... I want to spend it with you."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 673: Peter O'Toole (played by Mick Colman)

	"Hello, boy." Peter sauntered up to a charmingly attractive young
man who was arguing furiously with the Concierge about whether a Mr.
Cruise was staying at this hotel.
	"I *know* he's here! The studio sent me here. I..." The young man
broke off his angry tirade as his eyes focused on who had addressed
him.
	"You are our Nicki, I believe..." Peter smiled and extended his
hand. The young man reached for it like a somnambulist.
	"You're...you're...you're..."
	"Mr. O'TOOLE!" the Concierge gushed.
	     "Lawrence of Arabia!" the young man breathed. "Man, I *love* that
movie! You were really good!"
	"Why thank you, dear boy." Peter smiled at the young man. What a
beautiful creature he was. Eyes like a child's!
	He turned to the Concierge. "Phillipe, don't give this young
gentleman anymore trouble. He's doing a film with Mr. Cruise and
myself. If he should return to this establishment, you are to treat
him with the utmost courtesy," Peter fixed the man with a cool smile.
	"Certainly, Mr. O'Toole, Sir!" the Concierge stammered.
	"Excellent! The reputation of your fine hostelry is saved! You
will have a limo waiting at the curb by the time I get there, won't
you my good man." Peter turned away from the man without waiting for a
reply and started for the door, snagging the arm of the young man as
he went, steering him away from trouble and future tabloid headlines.
	"I believe we are bound for the same party," he smiled
reassuringly at the slightly awed young man. "A old friend of mine had
invited me to a friendly gathering to meet a few of her new friends,
when all at once I discover that a goodly portion of our film's cast
will be in attendance. A cast party is born!" Peter laughs.
	"Her?" The boy looked puzzled. "I thought Tom was giving the
party..."
	"Nonsense. Normally he wouldn't be allowed into the place, but
she made a exception it would seem because the young man who plays
Louis..."
	"That's Brad Pitt..."
	"Yes, well, it appears that young man desires his company. My
friend has develop an affection for "our Louis" and wants to cheer him
up - hence this little gathering."
	"Ah...Brad must still be trapped in that depressed Louis
thing..." the youngster nodded sagely.
	"Perhaps," Peter agreed, "However it came about, most of our
fellow players will be there."
	"Great! I can hardly wait!"
	"I've been practicing my best line for the occasion. Would you
like to hear it?" At the boy's enthusiastic nod, Peter stepped away from
and fixed him with a blazing look.
	"Wolfkiller..." he exhaled. It was barely a whisper of sound, but
it was clear and filled all at once with menace, admiration...and
promises.
	He had to leap forward to keep the boy from falling.
	"Magnus! Oh, *MAN* you're going to be MAGNUS!" the child seemed
wild with delight.
	"Yes, boy. I'm to be Magnus. First you make *him* yours, then I
steal him away from you! You and I get to be the real rogues of this
piece!" Peter smiled at the boy, steadying him as they made their way
to the limousine. He handed the boy inside and turned to the driver.
	"Do you know The Box?"
	The driver noded.
	"Good. Take us there!" He smiled at the boy as he climbed in
after him.
	"This is going to be such *fun*!"

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 674: Marius

	Marius took a deep breath, forcing himself to swallow and wet 
suddenly dry lips before replying.  The soft purr of Armand's voice 
coupled with the image before him made his heart skip and then set it to 
beating faster, at a rate that his lover should surely be able to hear.  
It took him another few moments to find that he had been asked a 
question, and to remember what it was.
	"I don't know... I'll find out."  It was an excuse to tear his 
eyes away from the far too tempting picture Armand presented and send his 
abruptly not so disciplined mind out to brush Lestat's.  
	::Mon fils? <humor> Why aren't you here yet?  And where ARE we 
going, anyways?::

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 675: Lestat 

	Lestat laughed, impulsively kissing Louis on the neck, as he 
heard Marius's question.
	::One moment, mon pere.  Let me see where this party is being 
held.  If you and Armand are ready, it might be quickest for us all to 
run there.::
	Lestat reached out and scanned for the traces of vampires in his 
wonderful New Orleans.  He let his mind search all the places where a 
cast party could be held, from the set, to Oak Alley, to Bourbon Street 
and.....ah!  There they were!  He could feel traces of Tom's mind.  
Gently, careful not to frighten the mortal, he took the information from 
his mind.
	"The Box?" Lestat murmured.  He rolled the name over in his mind, 
wondering where he'd heard it before.  ::Mon pere, have you ever heard of 
The Box?  The party is there.  And seeing how *I* need to get dressed 
still, perhaps we should meet you.::

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 676: Marius:

	Marius frowned a little, turning the name over in his own mind 
and then focusing back on Armand and...
	And...
	And gods he wanted desperately to close the distance between 
them, sweep him up in his arms, utterly devour those gently smiling lips 
and tug aside that deep green silk to run his hand across the white skin 
hidden just underneath...
	And if he did THAT, they wouldn't be going ANYWHERE.
	He HAD self control.  It just took a few deeper breaths and 
focusing on his left shoulder as opposed to that sensual teasing smile to 
remember it.  And then remembering what he had asked Lestat, and why, and 
that he was supposed to be relaying it.  The small frown came back as he 
tried to place the name again.
	"Lestat says it's some place called 'The Box'," he told Armand, 
sounding slightly puzzled.  "Do you recognize it?  I'd almost say I've 
heard of it..."  Marius paused, then shook his head.  "It's a club of 
some sort, I imagine.  I don't go to such places; I really wouldn't know."

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 677:Armand

	Armand stilled, his smile fading.  "The Box?" he said softly.  
"Of course.  I know of it.  It's not far from my own club."
	Marius raised both eyebrows.  "You have a club?"
	Armand waved it aside.  "It's a long story.  What's more 
important now is the Box.  I've never been in it, have heard of it by 
reputation only."  He hesitated.  "It is owned, as one may guess, by 
Pandora."
	Watching the emotions flicker across Marius' face, Armand took 
the inititive..  ::Lestat?  We need to have a serious conversation regarding
the vipers nest you lead us to.  It is owned by Pandora, who has caused 
Marius much grief.::

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 678: Jesse

	How Chris ended up in Danny's lap, he had had no idea... It seemed he 
was swerving to avoid a tree one second, and the next he was on the other guy's 
lap with the redhead behind the wheel.
	Using her lightning reflexes and her experiences of driving in New York 
City during her Barnard days, Jesse had yanked Chris from the driver's seat and 
zipped behind the wheel. Ok. So the tree was out of the way... but now she was 
in the wrong side of the street with traffic centimeters in front of her. She 
did what was logical in New York...  and in Rome... She crossed the lane, hopped 
the curb, took out a street lamp, missed the hydrant and a mime or two and  
neatly turned the corner. Trouble behind them, Jesse floored it.
	"I'll get us to the club the long way around..." She sighed, pushing her 
mass of curls out of her face. She glanced over at Chris and Danny who were 
staring at her, gaping. "What...? What'd I do? Hell's Bells, Danny. You know I 
learned to drive in New York City..."
	"Oh..." yawned Daniel. "I wondered where you learned to drive like 
that..." He looked out the window. "I only know one other person who drives like 
that..."
	::Armand or Lestat?:: Jesse replied into his mind.
	Chris continued to stare at her open mouthed. "Wh...who drives like 
that? Are th... they still alive??" He looked from one to the other. He took a 
deep breath and pondered how he managed to switch seats with the redhead so 
fast. 
	"Jesse?" He asked sofly.
	"That's m'name." She turned and winked at him.
	"That happened so fast... I almost expected to see you wearing my 
jacket!" He laughed a little nervously.
	"Don't be silly..." Jesse giggled. "Why would I be wearing your jacket? 
Why would I want it? It hardly goes with my dress... Geesh!" Jesse stuck her arm 
out the window and signaled to turn right. "But you shorts, Malloy... I mean, 
Slater... these plaid boxers go with anything!"
	Daniel threw his head back and howled with laughter.
	Chris was afraid to check and see if he *still* had his plaid boxers... 
on...

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 679: Daniel 

	*No, no, I'm not going to look...I just might have her panties on!*
	"You know Slater, we wouldn't be in this mess at all if you were
watching the road." Jesse informed him. 
	"That's true Chris." Daniel agreed. "It is you're fault that Jesse is
driving now. Though I must say that I'm rather touched by you display of
affection."  Chris was still in Daniel's lap, his hands clinging to Daniel's
blazer. Chris scoote off his lap and wedged himself between the two.
	"If you don't mind, I think it's safer if I just sit here." Chris took
a deep breath and closed his eyes.
	::I think we wore him out Danny.:: Jesse thought 
	::Ummm, yeah. Perhaps we better play it cool for a while.:: Daniel
was starting to feel bad for the poor actor. After all, who better knew then
he, the toll that vampire games could pay on a mortal?
	Jesse's driving skills proved to be excellent, for they were the first
to arrive at "The Box". "You guys ready for a fun night?" 
	"Sure am!"  Daniel hopped out of the car and ran around to the other-
side to open the door for Jesse. Chris still sat in the car with his eyes
shut. "You okay Chris?  You look a little pale."
	"As oppose to the two of you?" Chris laughed weakly. "No, I'm fine.
Just needed to catch my breath. You guys go on, I'll be there in a minute."
	Jesse shook her head "No can do Chris. They'll never let you in 
without us."
	"You're kidding, right?  Why would they let you in and not me?"
	"Don't take it personal Chris."  Said Jesse.
	"Yeah, they wouldn't let us in if we weren't friends of Pan. Come
on!  Times-a-wasting!  Get your ass in gear Slate!"  Daniel dragged him out
of the car and they headed for the entrance..

_________________________________________________________________________
Post 680: Lestat

	::Lestat?  We need to have a serious conversation regarding the
vipers nest you lead us to.  It is owned by Pandora, who has caused Marius
much grief.:: 
	Lestat stilled at the sound of Armand's words.  With four simple 
words Lestat's every vampiric urge had come out to the forefront with one 
purpose in mind:  PROTECT.
	*caused Marius much grief*
	*caused MY FATHER pain*
	Lestat's eyes, had Louis or Santino chanced to look into them, 
were ice cold.
	::Tell me, mon frere, what did the bitch do?::