SILLY SPEC: HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES Part 4, Posts 91-120 _____________________________________________________________________________ Post 91: Lestat and Louis Lestat took his time. He leaned in, then teased Louis with a kiss light as a snowflake. When Louis leaned forward he backed away, a teasing smile playing on his sensuous lips. Then he suddenly tired of the game and drew Louis to him for a searing kiss. When they parted sometime later, both were breathless. "Do you have anywhere you need to be, just now?" Lestat asked, his heart racing. "Nowhere but in your arms." Louis answered, melting Lestat all over again. "There's no one in these trailers..." "I noticed." Together they headed for one of the abandoned trailers. ______________________________________________________________________________ Post 92: Tom and Co. Tom shook his head a little on the pillow. He blinked several times before he could fully open his eyes. He leaned up on his elbows and looked around the trailer. All quiet. He pushed the blanket off him and stood up. He felt a little draft below the waist... "My God! What is going on here!" He said aloud pushing his limp organ back into place and closing up his pants. He sat down on one of the little chairs in the trailer and scratched his head trying to think of something that might give him a clue as to what was happening. "That groupie is really something... she's quick, I'll give her that!" he said. All of sudden the door flung open and in walked Louis and Lestat. They barely noticed Tom they were so enthralled with each other. He stood up abruptly and looked at both of them. "You!" he said to Lestat. "This is all you're doing!" He walked up to the blonde vampire and stood facing him. Not quite eye to eye, Lestat was much taller, but the look in Tom's eye meant business. "I want to know what the HELL is going on around here. Why is it everytime I wake up I see your face? And he's usually with you!" Tom said pointing to Louis who leaned against the trailer wall with his arms crossed around his chest. He sighed and glared at Lestat hoping his lover would not be tempted yet again... _____________________________________________________________________ Post 93: Tom and Co. Louis shook his head. It never failed. The moment Lestat and he would be struck by 'the mood', David would bumble into them, the phone would start to ring... and now permitting their senses to be dulled by passion, they'd walked into Tom's trailer. "Where the hell's my bodyguard?" Tom started to bellow, flapping his arms around vigorously. Lestat stepped towards Tom. "Please, calm yourself. I'm sorry if Louis-er-*Jean*-Louis and I disturbed you. You shouldn't let yourself get into such a state, it's very negative..." There seemed to be movement behind the curtain partition at the end of the trailer. A tanned mortal hand was seen between the small gap, reaching to open them. The mortal's balance seemed to be a trifle off, and he tumbled out of the partitioned off bed and landed in a heap on the floor. "Gaawddamn!" drawled Brad. "Jesse, you're one of the hottest chicks I've ever met... I'm gonna have one helluva hicky..." "Is the world congregating in my trailer or what??" Tom wailed. A face framed by gleaming coppery curls appeared between the curtains. Jesse batted her glowing green eyes. "Looks like it, Sweetie!" She glanced around the trailer at the handsome faces, mortal and vampiric. "Ooooh! If men are my religion, I must be in chruch!" _____________________________________________________________________ Post 94: Lestat and Co. Lestat felt the walls close in, his vision narrow, and his temper build. How on earth had he gotten back in this godforsaken trailer? Not the type of mistake he'd normally make. After all, he'd been in this trailer once already, you'd think he'd know where it was and who was in it! But now, not only was he to be denied a chance of sweet intimacy with his beautiful Louis... he was confronted by Tom, Brad, AND Jesse. He looked around the trailer, glaring. Whatever his vision lingerd on too long began to smoke. Louis saw the warning signs and backed off. It was one thing to warn him to keep calm. Getting in the middle of a full blown fit was something else entirely. Jesse took one look at Lestat, squeaked, and ducked back behind the curtain, dragging Brad backwards with her. "Hell, darlin'..." he drawled, "... no need to get pushy. I'm there, believe me!" Finally he settled his gaze on the pale imitation of himself, quaking on the bed. "I... dreamed of you." Tom gasped. "You're about to have a nightmare then." Lestat said grimly. "For I have had ENOUGH." Lestat grabbed Tom roughly by the collar, bolted out the door, and immediately launched into the sky. In moments they were hovering far above the set and away from prying mortal eyes. Tom trembled in his arms. "Now then, my sweet young pretender. Why should I spare your life? Convince me. And try to keep in mind that I haven't fed in hours, and you smell delicious." ___________________________________________________________________________ Post 95: Armand and Gabrielle Armand suddenly halted. Antonio, Jeremy and Martin stood before the lights - not a convienent rooftop in sight. He gestured to one of the ancient trees nearby. "Up there. Come on." Together he and Gabrielle settled on a wide branch. They were surrounded by dense foliage on all sides but one - that offered a direct view of the set. "Now, this is just a rehersal, mind you." Martin was saying. "Just to run through a few ideas." "A few ideas." Antonio said softly. "Martin, this entire scene is wrong! There is a strong bond between Marius and Armand. It's almost... spiritual. It's written too cold. Too clinical. Marius saved Armand! He must be grateful! To him, Marius is almost a God." Armand sat transfixed, listening. He wondered, briefly, what Marius would think of the conversation. ___________________________________________________________________________ Post 96: Gabrielle and Armand Armand had led her to an ancient tree, they sat together up in the branches while watching the mortal threesome below, "I spend most of my time in foliage Armand...This *is* my vacation from it." she jested. "Shhhh" Armand warned. Gabrielle couldn't help but think to herself that this was all to serious for her taste. There had to be way....some kind of action to be taken. She was ready to give Armand a little push off the branch for some fun when another mortal joined the crew. She heard Armand snicker. Goldie Hawn. Gabrielle groaned and was ready to leap from the tree when Armand's strong arm kept her still, she had forgotton how strong he really was. She fidgited in his grasp and he loved it, it was all too comical. He leaned in close so she could feel his breath on her skin, he whispered, "Yes, it is her. Do you remember what I said to you that night, years ago, when it t'was only you, Lestat and I in that Magnus' tower. He couldn't hear you, but I could. They could never do that scene right they didn't know...." Gabrielle could feel herself becoming lost in his voice, ready to melt for it, but then she thought that was exactly what she wanted. She tore away from his grip and smiled innocently. Then, with a guesture quicker than the eye, she pushed him off the tree , through the branches to the grassy floor below and landed right at the feet of..... "Marius." Gabrielle gasped ___________________________________________________________________________ Post 97: Santino At Marius's request, Santino moved away from his spot behind the trailer. :I shall leave you alone then,: he told Marius. :And never fear. Should anyone ask, you were with me the whole time.: He sent a mental smile along with that. As Santino walked, he thought about what Marius had said. Actually, it wasn't so much what Marius had said but how he had said it. *I've never seen Marius so emotional, so upset before.* Satino stopped and put his hands on his hips, lost in thought. *I'm sure it's fine. When is _Marius_ ever anything _but_ fine? Still...* He scanned back to where he had left Marius and David, just to assure himself that his worries were all in his head, and was surprised to find that both of them were no longer there! He quickly scanned for Marius and found him watching Jeremy Irons and the rest of the people gathered around the set, but the thoughts flitting through Marius's head were anything but calm or content. *Gabrielle!* Santino thought with a shock. *If _I_ can pick up what Marius is thinking, she probably can too!* And Santino knew that if anyone would tell Pandora, it would be Gabrielle. The women of the coven stuck together that way. *Well I'll be damned if I let that happen. Past feuds aside, Marius needs my help.* Santino quickly extended his own mental shield to cover Marius's, protecting the other vampire's incriminating thoughts. :Marius, be careful, you're slipping. If the others weren't so distracted by their respective actors, not even I would have been able to help keep your secret quiet.: Santino bit his lip, thinking. :And... and if you need someone to talk to... I'm here.: It occured to Santino that the best course of action would be for him to return to Armand and Gabrielle in order to make sure that they did not notice Marius. He was about to do just that when David's voice came out of the darkness. "Santino, you can come out now, I know you're out there!" Santino raised an eyebrow. *Looks like tonight's my night for meeting fledglings. Alright then, Armand and Gabrielle can wait another minute or two.* "Yes, David? I'm here." ________________________________________________________________________ Post 98: Armand, Gabrielle, and Marius Armand blinked, looking a bit like an owl. One moment he had held the delightfully squirming Gabrielle (ever full of surprises, that one!) the next he was on his back. But rather than staring up at the stars, he stared into the crystal blue eyes of his maker. Marius glanced up at the tree, then down to his fallen child. "Should I ask?" "No." Armand replied at once. "But you _could_ offer to help me up." Marius laughed gently as he extended his hand. "By all means." Armand grasped it, trying hard to ignore the tingle as he felt his hand enclosed in Marius'. It was always that way between them, though neither knew quite what to make of it these days. He stood a moment longer than necessary next to Marius, looking deep into his sapphire gaze... then he stepped back and made a great show of brushing himself off. "Thank you." He glanced up into the branches. "Coming down, you wench?" Gabrielle swung lightly out of the branches and landed beside him. "That was precious. Really. Do it again... maybe they could film it. The look on your face..." "Was nothing compared to what yours will look like when I wring your neck." he responded pleasantly. Marius looked from one to the other. "Did I interrupt something?" "No." they both answered at once. The reply was both a little too quick and _definite_ to fail to make an impression. "I see. Well then, what were you doing in the tree?" "Spying on Antonio." Gabrielle groaned. "Not spying." Armand corrected at once. "Just testing a theory." "Which is?" Marius asked. Armand frowned thoughtfully. "I don't quite know what to make of it myself, but it appears he and I have rather a lot in common." Marius raised an eyebrow. "How do you mean?" "Watch him for a moment." Armand urged. "You'll see." Curious, the elder vampire complied. Then he frowned. He looked harder and frowned again. Finally he drew a deep breath. "That's uncanny." Armand only nodded. "I'd love to see pictures of him as a youth." Gabrielle, meanwhile, grew bored. "Excuse me. While the two of you are lost in rapt contemplation... I'm stuck with Goldie Hawn." "Unfortunate choice." Marius agreed at once. "Too bad they couldn't get Glen Close." "Or at least Meryl Streep." Armand added. "So what are we going to do about her?" Gabrielle demanded. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 99: Gabrielle and Co. "So, what do we do about Goldielocks?" Gabrielle demanded as she looked from Marius to Armand, her gaze lingering a little too long on Armand....and unfortunatly, Armand noticed and smiled, :: What, wench? ::: If looks could kill (and if it were Lestat, they could) Armand would have been dead on the spot. "Nothing." she said through clenched teeth as she glared at him. Marius looked between the two, puzzled, not sure what to do or say next. He cleared his throat a little loudly and said, "Armand, where's Daniel...." "Daniel! That's it!" Gabrielle interrupted, "I'll go find Daniel!" She began to walk away when Armand grabbed her by the arm and said softly, "Please, don't go." WHat promted this change of attitude, she had no idea. But he looked so sincere, and lonely and well, she really didn't have anywhere else to go. So she follwed him back to Marius, she sighed, "So, what are we going to do about our favorite actors and actress here?" ___________________________________________________________________________ Posts 100: Marius and Co. "So, what are we going to do about our favorite actors and actress here?" Gabrielle asked. Marius looked at her a little warily. He wasn't too sure what she meant, and he wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to know. He found his gaze drawn back to the actors... Armand was right. Antonio Banderas was simply uncanny. It gave him a little chill to watch the man as he stood there, in silent and perfect mimicry of his counterpart. And then there was *his* counterpart. Marius sighed, resisting the urge to blow some of the stray hairs up and out of his eyes. With an irritated gesture he yanked the little elastic band out of his hair and started gathering it all back at his neck again. Yes, he was irritated. And no, it wasn't right to take it out on some poor mortal. That smacked entirely too close to something Lestat would do. Wonderful. He was going to go stark raving mad, if this kept up.::Bad enough trying to carry on an affair. But trying it when everyone you know is telepathic... Phagh! You're being paranoid, Marius.:: All right. He would put it out of his mind. Put David out of his mind, at least for the moment. Divert his attention to these astonishing little mortals they were watching. "What did you have in mind, Gabrielle? If watching is becoming boring, maybe you'd like a closer look." ____________________________________________________________________________ Post 101: Louis Louis stepped out of the trailer and looked skyward where Lestat had disappeared with Tom. He shook his head. He could take almost anything in stride, but to say Lestat was volatile was a true understatement. He made his way back toward the main area. He got vibes that Gabrielle was involved in something interesting... something to do with Goldie Hawn and Antonio Banderas. It wasn't nearly as interesting as what he had planned for Lestat, but that would wait until later. Louis walked over to Gabrielle and slipped his arm around her waist. "What are we doing now?" Louis asked with a smile on his face. ____________________________________________________________________________ Post 102: Gabrielle and Co. "A closer look?" Gabrielle repeated, amazed that Marius would suggest it. But then, she knew Marius and this wasn't all that surprising. She smiled and sent him a thought that Armand obviously couldn't hear, :: Marius, David ditch you? :: she flashed him an evil smile. She twirled her finger in Louis' hair who still stand beside her, arm wrapped securely around her waist, "Wanna come, son-in-law o' mine. Could be fun!" She unwound herself from his grip and caught Armand from behind, she wrapped her arms around him and started to haul him towards the set. "Wait!" he pleaded. Marius and Louis began to follow them quickly. ____________________________________________________________________________ Post 103: Armand and Co. Armand found himself being propelled along with the group. :If it's too much for you, just let me know.: Gabrielle sent, looking smug. He couldn't let her get away with that, but neither could he calmly face Antonio Banderas either... not at the moment. From the look of it, Marius was a bit disconcerted himself. Was it possible to walk calmly forward and backpedal furiously at once? He wasn't sure, but it was time to find out. "Gabrielle, this is hardly the time!" he hissed as they approached the actors. "They're busy!" "And you're as transparent as glass." she returned sweetly. Then she tightened her arms around him. "No need to be nervous, petite." she whispered. "I'm here." He looked at her and tried to glare. "Why do I find this less than reassuring?" The mortals looked up in surprise when the quartet approached. Martin frowned. "Louis?" he said, forgetting the pretense. "Who are these people?" Gabrielle stepped forward in her usual direct manner and extended her hand. "Gabrielle de Lioncourt. Pleased to meet you. Now then, where is your casting director?" She glared at Goldie, who stared at her, speechless. To his credit, Martin did not either laugh or flinch. "Gabrielle. What a pleasure. I met your son earlier tonight." "I saw. Terrific scene, that." "And you are?" he turned to Marius Louis stepped forward, ever the gentleman, to make the introductions. "Martin, this is Marius." Jeremy laughed. "_The_ Marius?" Marius raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, I'm the only one." Armand waited quietly in the background, hoping they would forget about him. Not a chance. Martin turned to him, but he silenced the obvious question with a glare. Then, cautiously, he looked up at Antonio. He loomed over him, much taller than his own 5'6. And even so, Armand thought he might be looking into the face of a brother... or perhaps his own father. It wasn't so much the physical similarities, though they were there, to be sure. It was the way he carried himself, his gestures - even his stillness. Antonio held himself just as Armand might have in an uncertain situation - still, poised, open and ready for anything. "Armand?" the actor breathed. Armand's eyes went wide as he felt Antonio's emotions. He was curious, but there was no shock, no disbelief. It was almost as though Antonio had been waiting for him. "Who are you?" Armand asked quietly. Antonio smiled softly. He looked away briefly, then locked his gaze with Armand. "I'm you." The answer was like a physical blow. Armand stared at Antonio for a moment longer... then vanished into the night. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 104: Gabrielle and Co. "ARMAND!" Gabrielle screamed after the quickly departing figure. Quickly, she grabbed Goldie by the collar, she peered into the frightened eyes and up and down her body, "You look NOTHING like me!" Gabrielle sneered. She turned towards Antontio, "Cher, watch your step with him, he's easily disturbed....I should know." she muttered. She threw an exasperated glance and then started to run through the humid New Orleans night. The moisture in the air seemed to slow her speed and weigh her down. Throughout the mazes she ran , frantically searching though she had no idea why. :: Cheri? Are you out there....come now darling. It's only me. It was too much...I'm sorry....I should've brought you over there. Please answer me. :: Gabrielle sighed and slid down against a tree trunk, she brought her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms tight around herself, "He'll probably swing down from one of these trees and scare the shit out of me" Gabrielle muttered, trying hard to be sarcastic but miserably failing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Post 105: Marius and Co. ::Marius, did David ditch you?:: Somehow, Marius managed to keep his mouth shut, instead of letting it drop open onto the ground, like it suddenly wanted to. He shot a paniced look to Gabrielle, but she had already turned away, grabbing Armand's arm and propelling him forward towards the little gathering of mortals. And Marius, with a deep sinking feeling in his gut and a wish that he had restrained his tongue a bit better, had no choice but to follow. Armand looked as though he might collapse in sheer nerves. The director greeted Louis by name- oh yes, that man understood what was going on! Marius managed, by breathing rather more slowly then really necessary, to calmly stand and watch as both Goldie and Jeremy blanched to an unnaturally pale color as Gabrille introduced herself and him. Jeremy's disbelieving tone was irritating, but Marius didn't spare more then a moment for it. It was Armand that worried him. He was tense, and silent, and obviously just about ready to bolt. And then Antonio breathed his name, like a bell peal of recognition. It was just too unreal to watch the two of them together, mirror images distorted through time. And then the answer to Armand's quiet question broke through all of them- "I'm you." In a flash Armand was gone, Gabrielle after him. Marius, with a quick look to Louis that begged forgiveness, ran after them both. Gabrielle was easy to follow but he cursed the silence between himself and Armand. He had less chance of finding Armand then Lestat's mother did. He kept a light touch on her mind, following her at a distance... if she needed him, or if Armand did, he would be there. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 106: Tom pleading for his life Tom was held tight in Lestat's arms as they flew past the clouds and into the heavens. He feared for his life and was trembling uncontrollably. "Prove to me that I should spare your life..." 'Oh God,' Tom thought... "Please, please, you must leave me be. Set me off somewhere, anywhere, but don't take my life. I have a wife and child I love more than anything else in the world. You want my part? You want to play Lestat? You can have it! My God! You ARE Lestat! You are... magnificent!" Tom stared at Lestat with wide contacted blue eyes and then promptly passed out. Lestat sighed... (will he survive or will he not? Tom is in thou hands... go gentle with him...) _________________________________________________________________________ Post 107: Lestat and Tom Lestat listened to Tom's pleading. Then, delving into his mind, he appeared before him once more. :Passing out won't help you at this time, pretender.: he sneered in Tom's face. :Now listen to me. So, you have a wife, and a child. You also have fans. As it happens, I am married, after a fashion, and I'm a father myself. I, too, have fans. I understand your situation completely. Far better than you do, in fact. There is one thing you've forgotten.: :What?: Tom stammered. :I'm higher on the food chain than you are, mon cher, and you are an irritant.: With that, Lestat plunged his fangs into Tom's throat. He drained him, not quite to the death, but very very close, almost as close as he had taken Louis that beautiful night so long ago. :Now then, pretty creature, get in my way again, and you will not live to regret it. I want you to behave yourself. I want you to do as you're told. No mre prima donna attitude. And you'll be seeing me on the set quite a bit from now on. Do we understand one another?: From the depths of his mind, Tom gasped :...yes...: :Very well, then. This has been a most productive night.: Lestat returned to Tom's trailer. :Jesse! Keep Brad occupied.: he commanded, in no mood to be questioned. Then he placed Tom on the bed and tucked him in. "I hope I don't regret this. And if I do, it won't be for long." With that ominous warning ringing behind him, Lestat left the trailer in search of Louis. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 108: Brad and Jesse Brad couldn't get enough of Jesse. Her body enflamed him. He pressed in tighter and tighter feeling her breasts against his chest. He lightly raised his hand and felt one of them, squeezing softly, running his fingers over the nipple. He kissed her deeply loving the play of her tongue in his mouth. His other hand encircled her small back and pulled her closer to him. They broke the kiss and he began to nibble her ear a little then run his tongue down her neck. He felt a quick tinge of pain in his throat and then it was gone replaced by an exquisite sense of ecstacy. He could feel his organ groaning to escape and soon... it was free and massaged by Jesse's hand. The experience was almost more than he could bear. He came swiftly and then quickly passed with the only word he muttered from his lips being "Jesse..." ___________________________________________________________________ Post 109: Armand and Gabrielle Once away from the bright lights Armand felt better. Then he felt foolish. Never before had a mere mortal spooked him like that. Still, he was not prepared to face Antonio again any time soon. When he heard Gabrielle call, his first impulse was to fade away, keep fading, perhaps back to miami. But then he felt her confusion, along with her desire to locate him. Try as he might, he could detect no pretense within her. She was honestly concerned. Still as the night, he watched as she slumped next to a tree, wr apping her arms around herself. Before he could think better of it, he approached, taking care not to frighten her. :Gabrielle...? I'm here.: He quietly sat next to her, wondering if she would mock him for his display on the set. _____________________________________________________________________ Post 110: Gabrielle and Armand Armand sat silently next to Gabrielle, in a low voice he said softly, "Why did you follow me, you had no reason...." Gabrielle stared up into the stars above, a totally cloudless sky, just the millions of stars shining down from above. She took a deep breath, not knowing if she wanted to say what she was thinking. She turned to him, a let her hand rest on his arm, and whispered, "I was worried, cher. And even if you don't believe it, I care. I really do. And I think you're more important that a bunch of mortals anyway. Were you frightened?" Armand reached up and cover her hand with his own, staring off into the distance, " I do not know. I was, I suppose but for what reason, I am lost. I looked at him and he reminded me of a father I cannot remember. It awakened memories I put behind me a long time ago. It made me want to run, just as I did when I was young." Gabrielle could feel the pain eminating from him. She wanted to hold him, care for him, ease his suffering. She felt so helpless as to what to do, "You're in pain, Armand. I want to help you, make up for not helping you so long ago. I abandonned you.....it could have been so different...." Gabrielle's voice trailed off into the night mixing with the chirping of the crickets and the music of the night.... ________________________________________________________________________ Post 111: Marius Marius stepped soundlessly back into the shadows. Gabrielle and Armand sat together, their voices low even to his ears. The idea of the two of them was almost rediculous... but after what he had seen, and heard, he wasn't going to laugh the idea off. Let them be together for a bit, maybe Gabrielle could reassure Armand. Feeling a bit like a voyeur, Marius backed away until he could no longer hear the two of them. ________________________________________________________________________ Posts 112: Armand and Gabrielle Armand slowly reached out to run the back of his fingers down her cheek. "It could have been... but that is past. Now... now is all that is important." He watched her eyes widen, held them with his own. Suddenly he felt calm and sure once more, though he rested in the arms of an enemy. Gabrielle caught the thought. :Enemy... do you still consider me that?: He gazed at her thoughtfully. :Comrade, perhaps. Upon the Devils Road. Walk with me... just a little ways....: Then he leaned forward, brushing her lips with his own, testing her reaction. She shivered in his arms, and at once he deepened the kiss, holding her close. When he broke the kiss, they were both breathless. "Gabrielle," he whispered, his eyes large and dark, "is this what you want... now?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 113: Gabrielle and Armand She could feel her whole body shake with anticipation, her eyes locked with his, this demon....her angel. Breathless, she whispered, "I want nothing else more in the world. Just you Armand, only you....." She let her voice fade off into the night, she pulled Armand close, so she could feel his soft breath on her face. She looked deep into the dark eyes, so full of....yes...what was this here? Love.... Armand caught the thought and whispered into the depths of her mind, :: Yes, Love me.....:: Those familiar words of long ago, touching her heart. Two...alone of the Devil's road, walk with me.... She gave in to it.... She softly closed her mouth on his, her arm reaching around to the small of his back and pressing him tighter, her other hand tangled in the aurburn masses of his angel's mane. He responded in turn, deepening the kiss, holding her close, loving the emotions that ripped right through his soul to his heart's core. He ran his hands covetously over her body, never letting go of her, pondering whether to take the next step.... Slowly, he made a small incision on his tongue, letting the powerful fluid come in just small droplets. Gabrielle was overtaken by it, she felt it like liquid sunshine, bathing her in intense warmth....she whispered to the depths of him....her friend, the name which held the meaning... :: Amadeo ___________________________________________________________________________ Post 114: Louis Louis hadn't seen Lestat since he'd taken off with Tom. He'd killed a little time with Martin and some of the cast. They weren't too bad for mortals... at least they were professions and didn't gape. Well, Lestat had missed THAT. As he made his way across the lot, he began to pick up rather amourous vibes.... Louis stopped. :Gabrielle?: He thought...:and Armand?: The combination of THOSE two took his breath away! Louis headed off earnestly searching for Lestat... if he could manage to keep him away from that tres unusual pair, he could perhaps prevent an all out riot from taking place on the set! ________________________________________________________________________ Post 115: Marius Moving out of earshot proved to be not enough. The first wave of feeling broadcast - loudly - by Gabrielle almost made him choke. Surely they weren't... But they were. Gabrielle. And... Armand. Not his Amadeo. Not any more. And if Armand wanted to do this, well, it was his choice. Marius put up every wall he could think of around his mind, blocking out Gabrielle, and walked away. ::Leave them be, let them alone, don't worry about them... They're both adults...:: It still hurt in some ways, though, knowing that Gabrielle was closer to Armand then he was. ::Leave it alone,:: he told himself. ::Go wait for David.:: "Leave what alone?" A voice asked. Marius nearly yelped, jumping back abruptly. Khayman stepped out where Marius could see him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." "Scare me?" Marius almost squeaked. "No, you didn't scare me. Just startled me a little." He cleared his throat, regaining his composure. "I didn't know you were still here. Are you waiting for Jesse?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 116: Jesse and Brad :Brad is too funny. I know when i was a mortal I wasn't driven by sex. Must be a guy thing. Even so this is a great way to relieve my boredom!: Brad fumbles around with his clothes... "Oh man that was good I mean whoa baby I need a cigarette! Whoosh... We got to do that again some time...." "Really Brad I should get going back to my friends. Isn't there a scene you should be doing right about now?" :I _know_ he doesn't know about the infamous "kiss" scene... Should prove interesting...: "Oh yeah I think so I might need to go read over my lines figure out what to do... maybe practice my new walk..." :Just wait til I tell Gabrielle about this! How how 90's! Girl meets boy boy lusts after girl... they disappear... he leaves her to clean up the mess... heehee Gabrielle will love this story...: "Tell you what Brad why don't we agree to meet up later... And maybe I can bring a friend... Ok?" :She'll either kill me for thinking of it or she'll collapse laughing... Where is she? This is tooooo funny... And she shouldn't pass up a drink from one of the mortal world's sex symbols...: Jesse goes to look for Gabrielle... __________________________________________________________________________ Post 117: Santino and David Santino walked into the light were David could now see him. He realized Santino hadn't meant to sneak up on him. Lestat had made him so powerful, that he could pick up others thoughts with too much ease. It was uncomforable at times. But here was his chance to find out how much Santino and the rest of the coven knew about he and Marius. But how should he go about it? He couldn't just blurt out 'Tell me what you know or you're toast', though he thought about it for a moment. No, he was going to have to approach this with charm and tact. "Sorry Santino, I didn't mean to...I know you weren't trying to spy on me." "Was that what you were implying? I didn't notice till you said it just now." "Well no, I mean yes, I mean--God I hate this! Santino, tell me what you know or you're toast!" "That's a bit dramatic!" "Arrrrrgh!" David gave up in frustration, this night was just *not* going to go well for him. "Are you okay?" Santino asked him as he thudded his head against a nearby tree. ________________________________________________________________________ Post 118: Armand and Gabrielle Armand felt a deep shiver pass through him as she whispered that most private of names into his soul. He wanted so very much to give in to this rising passion... but suddenly he felt the fear return. This was no manageable young fledgling in his arms, but Gabrielle de Lioncourt. She had played many roles within his life... was lover to be the next? She felt him tense under her hands and broke the kiss, looking up at him with slightly unfocused eyes. "Armand?" she whispered. "What's wrong?" "It's not you." he responded at once, just as quietly. "It's me. This... between us... it would be so easy. But I can't." As he feared, he saw anger spark within her blue eyes. "Why?" He would not allow her to pull away. "You have trusted me with truth." he said, his voice low and intense, "I shall do the same. This..." he made a gesture to encompass the two of them, "is too easy. It is what I do... how can I explain this?" He sighed. "Gabrielle, seduction is too easy for me, and unworthy of you. You deserve better. Can you understand?" _________________________________________________________________________ Post 119: Gabrielle and Armand Gabrielle wanted to scream, kick and tear at Armand. She wanted to hurt him, throw him into the tree trunk.......Love me. But she didn't. She didn't do any of it. She sat calmly, still in his arms, her gaze drifting off into the night. Her mind was racing with visions, pictures, words, confusing and killing her. She tried to string together the concious thoughts, turn them into words. She pulled away from him and rested her head against the tree trunk, she closed her eyes to the world. She took a deep breath and opened them again and looked Armand straight in the eye, "Why, cher?" she trailed a finger down his cheek, a solitary ruby drop trickling from her own eye She chose to ignore it, "Why must it be so difficult for you....." "Gabrielle..." he began, slowly. "No." she interrupted. She felt that horrible wave of emptiness and lonliness threatening again. The wall that seperated them that was so shortly broken, slamming in place once more. "No, I don't want your half-truths, your enigmas." she shivered, this was too hard, "Is that all this is to you? A game of seduction?" She furiously wiped at her eyes. "You can't under..." Amand tried to begin again, but true to her nature, Gabrielle would be heard. "No, I can't believe that's all it was. I don't believe it's all a game. Until you can believe and trust in your own feelings Armand, mine are obviously too much for you." She stood up and said, her voice void of emotion, "The dawn is coming...." And then slowly, without looking back though she desperately wanted to, she walked away. _________________________________________________________________________ Post 120: Armand Armand watched her go, his face the very picture of sorrow. He had not wanted to hurt her, to damage the fragile trust between them. And yet - she deserved nothing less than the truth. She certainly deserved something more than himself. He drew one leg to his chest and wrapped his arms around it, resting his head on his knee. He sat, unmoving, his back against the tree, lost in thought.