RPG SPEC: Hollywood Vampires
Part 6, Posts 151-180
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Post 151: Louis and Lestat

The dank, confined space... his fingernails clawing at the coffin lid. 
Was it the second or third night? He couldn't remember. HE was trapped... 
walled up, upside down, in a casket under the Theatre of the Vampires. He 
screamed her name again..."CLAUDIA!!!" But his voice stayed sealed with 
him inside his tomb.  "CLAUDIA!!" He screamed again. Where was she? What 
had those demons done to his beloved? The air was stale and scented with 
his own blood. He could feel it caked to his face where the cuts had 
healed and the tears had dried to skin. His hands were raw from trying to 
break out.  And all the while, the insatiable blood-hunger burned in his 
veins....

"CLAUDIA!" Louis screamed and waking, brought his head up on the lid of 
the vault with a bloodcurdling thump.

Lestat was awake and had the lid flying across the room in a split 
second.  He turned Louis face up and cradled him in his arms.

"Just a dream, Lover, just a dream!" Lestat presses his cheek against 
Louis' face.

Louis' green eyes glowed with terror. He looked into Lestat's face and 
gasped.

"Lestat! Oh...!"  He closed his eyes and lay back in Lestat' arms, panting.
"The theatre...! Claudia!...Mon Dieu...!" 

"Just a dream... you're right here with me! If that's what doubling up in 
a coffin does to you, we won't try THAT for a while..." Lestat smiled and 
kissed Louis softly.

Louis sat up, still breathing heavily. "I can't remember... the last 
time... I had that dream.  It must have been years ago. Oooh. My head."

Lestat gingerly ran his fingers over the back of Louis' head. "No 
damage... you're not bleeding."

Louis was climbing out of the vault. "That's better... Come on, Lestat. I 
need to get some air."

Together they walked down the stairs and into the hall. Peering into the 
front parlor, they saw Gabrielle curled up on the sofa.

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Post 152: Gabrielle, Lestat, & Louis

Gabrielle heard her two most beloved friends walking towards the front
parlour. She lifted her eyes to meet theirs and softly said,

"Good evening....."

Lestat looked at Louis and Louis nodded and they walked into the parlour.
Lestat drew Gabrielle into his arms and softly stroked her hair,

"Oh, mother....what has he done to you...."

She looked up into his eyes,

"I don't know...all I know is that there was this dream. Horrid dream. Les
Innocents all over again mon fils. The wails, the drums, Nicki....Armand."
Gabrielle shivered in his arms.

Louis looked at Lestat quizzically and then settled next to Gabrielle,
locking his eyes with hers,

"You had a dream too?"

Gabrielle looked at him, confused, "Yes, one I hadn't had in years and
years.....you too, Louis?"

Louis looked taken aback and Lestat averted either gaze thinking that his
little trick on Armand had more far reaching effects. Louis nodded to
Gabrielle and pondered outloud,

"I wonder if we weren't the only ones...."

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Post 153: Armand and Marius

	Armand fought with himself for all of two seconds.  Then he
relaxed once more under Marius' attentions.  He tilted his head back,
allowing Marius full access to his throat, which the elder vampire 
covered with small kisses.  Then Armand reached up, turning his face,
seeking out hislips once more with his own.  When the kiss broke 
both were breathless.
	He traced the side of mariu's face with gentle fingers.  "You
asked to be forgiven, mi Padrone." he whispered.  "I forgave long ago.
It is understanding which is slow in coming."  He shook his head as
Marius frowned.  "I don't say this to hurt you.  Simply to clarify.
Perhaps in the future you will be able to tell me why... why is it
that you never returned?  Why did you leave me with Santino?  Why did
you leave me in hell?"

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Post 154: Marius and Armand

	Marius took a shakey breath, releasing it slowly. "Amadeo..." He 
whispered. "Oh, I wish there was a simple answer to that. If it was only 
so easy..."
	He placed a finger to Armand's lips, stilling his words. "No, my 
love, let me finish. Let me try to explain. God, this is hard.
	"For years afterward... Many years... I couldn't come to you. I 
was hurt, almost dead, in such pain that merely moving across a room was 
almost more then I could do. I... I went underground for a time, took 
Those Who Must Be Kept with me. I couldn't bear the pain. And when I 
woke, I searched for you. I was so afraid you were dead, but I had to 
know for certain. I searched through the minds of our kind, the eyes of 
mortals, anyone I could find. And you... you were with the coven. You had 
joined them, you lived among them, and you were safe there. Do you 
understand, Armand? I couldn't keep myself safe, I could barely protect 
Those Who Must be Kept by staying as far from the populated world as 
possible. I couldn't have protected you, and after Santino there were 
others who came for the Mother and Father." Marius closed his eyes, 
burying his face against Armand's hair. Tears were welling up in his 
eyes, all of his emotions too raw and too near the surface. He hadn't 
been this vulnerable in centuries. "I wanted to go to you. I wanted you 
back beside me so badly it _hurt_. But I couldn't. I couldn't expose you 
to that risk again, not when I couldn't protect you. The coven kept you 
safe when I couldn't. It was the hardest thing I ever did, but I had to. 
I was _afraid_, Armand. For you, for myself. Can you forgive me?"

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Post 155: Lestat and Co.

	Lestat looked from Louis, to Gabrielle to Louis once again.  Did
he dare tell them what he had done?  He had never meant to hurt either
of them!
	But he had never meant to hurt himself for that matter.
	Quick flashes of his own dreams passed before his eyes.  There
were no specific memories like Gabrielle or Louis had.  No for Lestat
the nightmare had been everything.  Face after face after face played
before him as the same message came from each and every mouth.
	*Don't love you don't want you don't need you wish you were dead
wish you had never been born!*
	But how could Lestat tell that to Louis and Gabrielle?  Especially
since they had been in his dream too.  No, best not to tell them.
Certainly best not to tell Louis, who would not understand.
	Of course, that's what Lestat told himself was the reason.  Deep
down he knew the real reason:  If he told Louis about the dream of his
rejection, Louis would not dismiss it as a dream.
	"Something should be done," Louis was saying.  "Perhaps we should
seek out Armand and find out just what exactly is going on?"
	"Forget it," Lestat said harshly.  "I want no part of this!"

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Post 156: Daniel and Co.

	He quickly got up from the bed and ran out of the room, disheveled
as he was, no time for grooming. He walked through the hallway as quick as
his own weakness and hunger allowed him to, and there, at the end of the 
hallway, in the front parlor, he saw Gabrielle. She was sitting in the sofa,
Louis next to her. Lestat stood close by, pacing back and forth, rubbing his
chin with his left hand. Something was definitely wrong.
	"Lestat?" Daniel called.
	Louis and Gabrielle turned to face the new arrived member of the coven.
	"Oh, Daniel! You startled me!"
	"If one so young can sneak up on *you* your mind must be very 
occupied in more important matters," Gabrielle remarked.
	"Sorry," Daniel said as he made his way towards a wooden chair and
stumbled on it, letting his body drop reluctantly.
	"What is it with you?" Louis asked, noticing Daniel's expression of 
utter grief and confussion.
	"Armand...a dream of Armand..."
	"You had a dream too?" Gabrielle exclaimed. A sudden realization
crossed her mind and she turned to Lestat with a knowing and malicious
stare in her blue eyes, "You have quite a few things to explain, Lestat
de Lioncourt!"

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Post 157: Lestat and Co.

	"Explain?  *Explain*?"  Lestat was incredulous.  "Horror upon
horror is laid down upon the members of this coven and all that my
very own mother and Child can do is to immediately blame me!"
	"Lestat--" Louis tried to interrupt.
	"No!  Don't take her side!"  Lestat turned on Louis.  "I cannot
believe this!  Is this what is thought of me?  That I am so evil that I
would harm the entire coven just for my own amusement?  How can you say
this to me!  No.  Now I truly want no part of this!"
	Lestat turned to go.

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Post 158: Gabrielle and co.

Lestat's eyes opened wide as Gabrielle pulled herself back from his grip,

"WHAT?" he yelled, "I had NOTHING to do with this!"

"Oh come off it, Lestat." she yelled back, "Don't you think it's a little bit
more than a coincidence we all had dreams like this?"

Louis looked between Gabrielle and Lestat, "Are you accusing him of sending
the dreams, Gabrielle. I don't think he would do that to us...."

"No, Louis. Not to us, but to Armand. And it doesn't take a genious to figure
out that Armand is so highly telepathic that what Lestat sent to him was
relayed to all who were close to him."

Daniel burst in, "What did Armand do to you Lestat?"

Lestat mumbled something like, "Not to me...to her." and he pointed at
Gabrielle. Gabrielle stood up, her body shaking with anger her eyes narrowed,

"Yes, to ME, Lestat. I'm old enough to take care of myself without you trying
to help. How dare you do something so horrid to him...you know how much he
hurts, HOW DARE YOU!"

Lestat sneered back, "Oh, yes, mother, let's play the 'Let's all be
sympathetic to Armand' game. With you as our leader."

Gabrielle could feel the steam rising from her head, she saw Daniel take a
step back and Louis slowly get up from the couch. She walked straight up to
Lestat and picked him up by the collar, holding him off the ground,

"Listen to me young man." she began as he squirmed in his grasp, "Don't try
darling, it's bound to tire you out. If you EVER try this sort of thing
again, I'll make Monsieur Cruise my fledgling and dump the burden on you, mon
cher." She shook him for effect, "You understand?"

Lestat managed to choke out, "Yes."

Gabrielle threw him to the floor and she towered over his cowering figure,
"Don't do this again, son. Gabrielle is big enough to fight her own battles.
Try it again and I'll be YOUR nightmare to deal with."

With that she turned to Daniel,

"Would you like to take a walk with me? It's not safe for me to be in the
same room with Lestat, I may accidentally kill him."

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Post 159: Lestat and Co.

	Lestat remained on the floor, anger coursing through his body.
	"Yes, Daniel," he hissed.  "Do go for a walk with my *mother*.
I agree that it's not safe to keep us together in the same room.  Of
course, the fact that I would be in danger without you to protect me
certainly isn't a *new* one, is it Gabrielle?"  Lestat turned towards
Gabrielle and looked at her with eyes that were deadly cold.  "Go on now.
Have your fun.  Go ahead and make yourself a child that you will take
no responsibility for.  It certainly wouldn't be the first time!"

__________________________________________________________________________
Post 160: Gabrielle and Co.

Gabrielle narrowed her eyes at her son, angered greatly by his unkind words,

"At least I would never make a child and withold the answers from him he so
sought, or make a tiny one just to see what would happen, or take them by
force. You I showered my small dose of affection upon, do not tell me that I
misunderstand you, it is you who does not understand me." 

He glared back at her, knowing the coldness which lingered in her eyes,
"Don't you...."

"Silent, Lestat. The whole world must revolve around you. Come, look at
Lestat, see what HE can do. Well, guess what. You cause too much trouble. You
hurt people that have been hurt too much. Go Lestat and throw your tantrum
because someone can see right through your transparency." she turned to
Daniel and tugged on his arm. "Let's go now."

She pulled Daniel through the door and slammed it shut behind her.

_____________________________________________________________________
Post 161: Louis and Lestat

 Louis folded his arms across his chest and with an angry stamp of his 
foot turned away from Lestat.

"I can't believe you just said that." He then threw his arms wide open. 
"How could you?  After all the time you've spent weeping over your 'Lost 
Gabrielle', you as good as cast her from your life again."

"Shut up, Louis. I don't need any lip from you." Lestat was on his feet, 
pacing  the room.

"No... I won't shut up." Louis leveled his gaze into Lestat's cold eyes.
"For once in your immortal life will you listen? Why must you think I am 
siding with everybody else against you?  Why must you think I'm out to 
hurt you, just as you go on a rampage to hurt those who love you?"

Louis walked out of the room. "I'll be at the shoot, see you later."

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Post 162: Lestat

	"If anyone out there has a good reason why I bothered to wake
up in the first place," Lestat said to the now empty room,  "I'd love to 
hear it."  He waited.  "No?  I didn't think so."
	And why had he bothered?  All he'd done was wake up to actually
live through his dream.  One by one those he loved turned their backs on
him and walked away.  It didn't matter that he'd helped them do it.  They
were going to do it anyway.  At least this way it was over with quickly.
	He just wished.... he just wished that by doing that he hadn't
yet again proven to himself how right they were to leave him.
	"No," Lestat said suddenly.  "I'm not going to do this again.
I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of watching me suffer.  *Or*
of seeing me go off into a tantrum, as Gabrielle so charmingly called it.
If they want to go, let them.  I've got better things to do with my time."
	With that, Lestat left the house and disappeared into the streets
of New Orleans.

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Post 163: Louis

Louis walked around the back of the movie lot. He hated fighting with 
Lestat. Things had been going so well between them lately.

:Oh, well.: Louis thought. :We were past due for an explosion:.
It didn't make things easier for him, though. He sat down on the ground 
slumped against a tree. He then realized that was the tree were they were 
sitting last night enjoying a little tongue sushi. 

:Dammit... He really deserved it this time.: Louis rose to his feet and 
walked back across the field.

He saw Jesse coming toward him, a silly smile on her lips. She caught him 
around the waist and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

Her breath had the distinct odor of beer.

"Mon Dieu, Jesse! I didn't know you coulkd drink that!"

She giggles a little tipsily. "I can't Sweets, but Brad sure can put it 
away.... and this is left over from last night!"

"Have you considered a cold shower?" Louis asked in a brotherly tone.

Jesse threw back her head and laughed. 

"Is this an invitaion? Oh, Louis! I never thought you'd ask!" 

There was a slight throaty chuckle from behind Louis. They turned to see 
Gabrielle.

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Post 164: David

David saw Gabrielle and Daniel walking on the way to the set. "Mind if
I join you?"  They both looked disturbed by something and he wasn't
sure if he was cutting in on anything. Still, this would be a good
oppertunity to to find out if they knew something.
     "No, David."  Daniel said. Gabrielle remained silent. "We don't
mind at all.  We're heading to the set. Hey, where were you last night?"
David started to sweat.

______________________________________________________________________
Post 165: Daniel, David, and Gabrielle

 	"Hey, where were you last night?" Daniel asked
	David began to sweat, trying to remain calm, he replied: "Last night?
Why, last night...Hmm, I..., well, you see...I don't remember!"
	Gabrielle felt the uneasiness in David's voice and immediately 
jumped in the conversation. "You don't remember, David? How's that possible,
so young and tender a fledgling with memory problems? Leave that for old
Khayman." She teased, trying to obtain more information. 
	David only laughed nervously and changed the subject. "So, where were
*you* Daniel? I didn't see you for a good while."
	Daniel felt that nauseous sensation once again, only thinking of Bubble
gave him the shivers--- and they weren't exactly shivers of excitement and
happiness! "Oh, boy! I was with some chic...Nothing worth to repeat," he sighed.	The three kept walking in silence. Daniel stared at David with the
corner of his eye. Had David's lashes always been so long? He had never 
realized that until now, nor the shimering dark curls that framed his 
handsome dark face, so exotic and beautiful.
	Gabrielle smiled at Daniel. "Exotic and beautiful, huh?"
	Daniel blushed. He had forgottend that Gabrielle could read his
every thought. He composed himself and smiled back. "Oh, I was just 
thinking, you know." He cleared his throat.
	"I know," Gabrielle replied.
	David looked from Daniel to Gabrielle and back again, without being
able to comprehend their 'humor'

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Post 166: Maharet

	"I know it's around here _somewhere_... Ah!" Maharet exclaimed as 
she landed softly and silently at the gate. The flight here had only 
taken an hour and it was still early in the evening as she arrived at the 
site for the filming of 'The Vampire Lestat'. "Two to one, I'l find out 
what's going on here," She muttered. 

	Last night she had been continously interupted by odd, stray 
thoughts from most of the family.  At first, Maharet dismissed them as 
fancies of her own mind. What had really caught her attention was 
Gabrielle mentally screaming something about someone called ... 
Goldilocks? After that, she had begun to Listen actively.  What she 
_could_ Hear, didn't make much sense. But when did _anything_ about the 
Coven make sense?  It had taken half the night, but Maharet had 
finally picked up enough information to know that the something was 
happening in New Orleans at the filming site.  It had taken until nearly 
dawn to clear her calender indefinitely, and to have everything ready for 
sunset when she awoke. 

	Taking a deep breathe of the warm, sultry air, Maharet slipped 
into the welcoming shadows of the trees. She stopped under a great 
Magnolia tree for a moment, then opened her mind to call. 

	:Khayman? Jessie?: Maharet repeated the call several more times, 
before she Felt someone. :?: Ah, it was actually _three_ someones. 
Namely David, Daniel, and Gabrielle, and they were approaching the  
Plantation fairly rapidly. She instantly altered her path to intercept  
them. They would tell her what the hell was going on.

______________________________________________________________________
Post 167: Gabrielle and Co.

Gabrielle took a hold of David's arm and leaned in close to whisper in his
ear once Daniel was off thinking about Bubble again...

"Sweetie...don't worry about it. I can make them all forget about
everything...leave it to your big sis ok?"

David nodded and Gabrielle turned her attention back to Daniel, threading her
arm through his.

"Mon cher, shall we go watch the proceedings together. I'm rather afraid to
watch by myself, I need someone there to keep me company." She batted her
eyelashes up at Daniel.

:: Oh, If Jesse could see me now!:: she thought to herself.

"I would love to..." Daniel began, "but don't you think we should make sure
that Armand is allright?"

Gabrielle bit her lip, not wanting to think about Armand. David sensed her
unease and told Daniel very politely,

"He's fine I'm sure. Armand is very capable of taking care of himself."

Daniel shrugged and said, "I suppose you're right."

Speaking of Jesse....Gabrielle saw Louis and Jesse up in front of them. She
ran to Jesse and picked her up and swung her in a circle.

"How's that for a reception, best friend?" Gabrielle laughed.

______________________________________________________________________
Post 168: David, Daniel, and Maharet

     David was still walking with Daniel when they were greeted by the
Maharet. He aways felt in awe when he was in her presents. Her long red
hair, her white marble skin, the very essence of power and wisdom combined.
Normally he could spend hours just looking at her and taking it all in, but
he was distracted now. He feared what would happen should he run into Marius.
     "David, did you hear me?  What is going on here?" She asked him.
     "I'm sorry Maharet, but I'm afraid you're asking the wrong person. I
haven't spoken with anyone since early yesterday night, and I do try to keep
from prying when I can. Uh...what is it that is concerning you?"  He asked
nerviously. He hoped she hadn't picked up on his little adventure the other
night. But what we're the chances?  It appeared that everyone in the coven
had an interesting night to say the least.
     "It just seems like the entire coven has gone frantic over this movie!"
     "It does appear that way, yes." David caught a glimpse of Marius in his
mind. Something was going on, but he couldn't read quite what it was. There
was a tinge on pain in the emotion, but also great joy. Perhaps Marius didn't
know about Santino. "If you would please excuse me, I have to find somebody
right now."  And he took off toward the wooded area. Daniel followed close
behind him.
     "Wait up David!"  he yelled. "I need you to help me find Armand!"

_____________________________________________________________________
Post 169: Louis and Co.

Louis watched as Jesse and Gabrielle fell in a giddy vampiric heap on the
ground. He was not in the mood for this. 

"Oh, don't stand there like a gorgeous lump." Jesse chortled, "help us up."

"Very well..." Louis offered both his hands to The femme vampires. Gabby
tried to pull him down on top of them, but Louis let go of her hand.

"Oh.. You're no fun." she grumbled.

Louis glanced over his shoulder at her. "So your son keeps telling me."

"Did you and Lestat have a fight?" Jesse asked him.

"Lestat and I make it a habit never to go to sleep on speaking terms."
Louis grumbled, then stuck his hands in his pockets and walked off.

He ended up in the cafeteria tent, in line for the coffee. It was 
pleasantly warm in his hands and the sharp smell of it almost seemed to 
help clear his mind. He accepted the cup of coffee from one of the staff, 
walked over to a table and sat down. Like this, he could sit and observe 
the people around him.  He held the mug to his mouth and let the fragrant 
brew touch his lips. He smiled at the girl at the coffee urn.
 
As Louis sat prending to drink coffee, Brad Pitt swaggered in.

Louis's eyes met Brad's. Louis raised the cup in a salute to Brad.
Brad half-waved. 

'Damn,' thought Brad.'If that French Twink don't look weird ...
I've never seen a person so pale.'


_____________________________________________________________________
Post 170: Brad and Tom

Brad sat on one of the benches in the mess tent and nursed his
hangover with a heaping brew of coffee (spiked with just a little
rum). He began to sip it slowly when a blonde knocked into him. His
coffee spilled, luckily for him and his manhood, over the table.
 
"Damn!" he cursed. He looked up to find Tom taking a seat beside him.
Tom looked extremely haggard and wore the same clothes he had been
wearing for the past few days. He also stunk.
 
"Whew... Tom, man, I think you need a shower something fierce!" Brad
exclaimed, waving the smell away with his hand.
 
"Have you seen him, Brad? Have you seen him?" Tom asked hurriedly,
grabbing Brad by the shoulders.
 
"What? Seen who? What?" Brad said, pulling Tom's hands off him and
moving down the bench a little.
 
"You know..." Tom said, squinting at Brad.
 
"No, I don't know," Brad said annoyed.
 
"The blonde, the other Lestat, the one that played me last night in
that scene. Mellowmouth or something... have you seen him?" Tom was
absolutely rabid, nearly foaming at the mouth. Brad stared and gaped
at him wondering what the hell he had to drink when he got out of bed
this morning.
 
"Tom... you're absolutely pale, you know. I think you should head
straight for the doctor, or just go back to bed. Well, actually, you
should take a shower before you do anything!"
 
"Brad, please, I've GOT to find him. I've just GOT to!" Tom said,
weeping.
 
Brad moved a little closer to Tom. He had never seen him lose it like
this ever before. The king of control lost his control and was
sobbing all over the table. Others were beginning to notice that
something was not quite right with Tom.
 
Louis looked up and noticed Tom's erratic behavior. A little glimmer of 
something like worry went through him.
 
Brad placed his hand on Tom's shoulder, squeezing just a little.
"Tom, Tom, get a hold of yourself. What's up? Why do you have to find
this person?"
 
Tom tried to speak between sobs. He placed his hand on Brad's knee.
Brad twitched a little but accepted the gesture in friendship. "I've
got to find him," Tom said, sobbing. "I just have to. I love him. I
do. I love him. I've got to have him. I just have to." Brad was
shocked. He removed his hand from Tom's shoulders and slid back a
little on the bench allowing Tom's hand on his knee to slide off. He
cleared his throat.
 
"Uh, I see. Yeah. Hmmm... well, I don't know what I can do about
that. Um... hmmm... what about your wife? Tom? What about your wife?"
 
"Who? Oh... her... I love him!" he sobbed again, this time much more
furiously. His last words were shouted out and this time everyone in
the place was staring at him.
 
Louis had not been listening too intently to their conversation but he
caught the last words. 'Oh, no. I just wonder who he might be
referring to,' he thought to himself.
 
Brad stood up abruptly from the table leaving his half full coffee
cup behind. "I'm going to get Jordan, OK? Tom, you OK? Just sit here
and let me get you some help."
 
"NO!" Tom shouted. And with that he stood up and ran out of the tent.
He ran and ran until he was in an open field and no one else seemed
to be around.
 
He shouted to the heavens: "Where ARE you Lestat? Come... come for
me! I love you! I love you!" he twirled around and around in the
field until he became so dizzy he collapsed onto the ground. He
mumbled incessantly about Lestat, about love, about blood, about
everlasting life, and about eveready batteries...

_______________________________________________________________________
Post 171: Jesse and Gabrielle

"Guess he's not any fun." Jesse said pointing to the retreating figure of
Louis.

Gabrielle sighed, "It's my fault. I fought with Lestat this morning and
well....Louis endedup sort of on my side and you know how Lestat is."

"Do I ever...May I ask what the argument was about?" Jesse inquired.

"Armand. Actually, Armand and I well....we had a 'disagreement' and Lestat
was ready to ring his neck so he sent a horrible dream command to Armand
which then was relayed to all close to him. I gave Lestat hell for it. And
everyone got angry and one thing led to another....."

Jesse sat back in disbelief, crossing her legs indian style and started to
play mindlessly with the grass, "You and Armand? That's....'heavy'."

Gabrielle fell onto her back and stared at the stars above, "Tell me about
it. The thing is that there's some strong attraction or something between us.
I'd rather ignore it right now if I could, it's driving me crazy. And then
the whole thing with Lestat, he's going to either kill me or Armand, I
haven't decided which. But you Jesse...what have YOU been doing?"

_______________________________________________________________________
Post 172: Santino and Lestat

	"Before I begin," Santino said, "you have to promise me that what
I tell you here stays between us!  You breathe a word of what I say to
anyone, even if you're talking to *yourself* and you and Mekare will
have a missing body part in common.  And I'm not necessarily referring
to your tongue."
	Lestat raised his eyebrows.  "My, my this sounds good.  Alright,
Santy, you have my word.  Rather, you have my promise that I won't *say*
a word."
	"Good," Santino said.
	"So what happened tonight?"
	Santino tried to figure out the best way to begin.  "Well, for
starters, I slept with David."
	"You did *what*?"  Lestat sat up halfway.  When Santino tried
to speak again, Lestat held out a hand to silence him.  "No, hold on a
moment.  I have to think about this."  Lestat propped himself up on his
elbows and looked off at nothing in particular for a mintue.  "Alright.
I think I've come to terms with it now.  You weren't doing any of your
sleazy tricks, were you?  Because I taught you most of your sleazy
tricks and if you used them on David--"
	"No, it was nothing like that," Santino said.  "It happpened too
fast for any trickery from either of us.  Well, the actually getting into
bed part anyway.  The other part--"
	"I'm not asking you for the details yet," Lestat said.  "I'm still
trying to deal with my jealousy that you've just gone all the way with
a man that wouldn't even let me slip him the tongue so let's not push
it.  So you slept with David and there was no trickery involved.  I
can accept that."  He looked at Santino.  "I never thought of the two
of you together, but it's certainly an interesting match."
	"Interesting is hardly the word for it," Santino said.
	"Again, no details please," Lestat said.  "So what's the problem?
You slept with David.  That's hardly throwing your life down the sewer."
	"The problem is," Santino said.  "David's sort of involved with
someone else."
	"Someone else?  Who?"
	"Marius."
	"WHAT??" Lestat practically jumped off the bed.  "But that's
crazy!  Marius has been involved with Pandora for centuries!  What's he
doing with David?  What's *David* doing with him?"
	"I don't know," Santino said.  "All I know is that I saw them
together at the shoot yesterday.  Marius nearly had a fit when he found
out that I accidentally caught them.  But I promised him that I wouldn't
say a word to anyone--"
	"Doing quite a job of that so far."
	"You said you'd keep your brat mouth shut and believe me, you're
going to!"
	"Calm down, Santy," Lestat said.  "I was just teasing.  I won't
tell anyone about this.  It's going to kill me, but I won't tell anyone."
	"Thank you."
	"But how did you go from saying those very words to Marius to
sleeping with David?"
	"I'm not exactly sure of that myself," Santino said.  "After I
left David and Marius alone, they split up for some reason.  Marius went
to join Armand and Gabrielle and David came after me.  I think they had
a fight of some sort.  Nothing permenant, but enough to kill the mood,
you know?  Anyway, David didn't want to go back to where Marius could
find him so I suggested that he share this suite with me."
	"And one thing led to another," Lestat said.
	"Boy did it ever!"  Santino groaned and covered his face with
his arm.  "Lestat, what am I going to do?  David and I weren't exactly
careful about sheilding ourselves last night.  A mortal passing on the
street could have picked up what we were doing.  Marius in the mood he
was in last night--" Santino shuddered.  "I can't believe I did such
a stupid thing!  I threw away centuries of work trying to get Marius
to trust me all for a romp in the sack with one of your fledglings.  No
offense, but you know what I mean."
	Lestat patted Santino comfortingly.  "I know.  So what does David
want to do?"
	"He's gone back to Marius, of course."
	"What about you?  There aren't any feelings between you two?"
	"No!" Santino said, sitting up to face Lestat.  "It was just a
mistake.  A stupid, stupid mistake.  We weren't thinking."
	Lestat looked at Santino for a moment.  "If you say so.  What does
Marius have to say about all of this?"
	"Nothing, I hope," Santino said.
	"Santy," Lestat said.  "This is *Marius*.  Someone in this coven
parts their hair differently and he knows about it.  He's going to know
that David spent the night with you, even if he doesn't guess how far you
got.  What are you planning on doing?"
	"Lying through my teeth," Santino said.  "I told David that I
would explain things to Marius, tell him that we did it as a cover for
their relationship.  He knows that Gabrielle already suspects it so maybe
he'll be paranoid enough to believe me."
	"There's just one problem," Lestat said.  "Your skills at lying
are hit or miss at best.  I don't think you could pull something like
that off with Marius."
	"I know," Santino sighed.  He grew thoughtful, then a sly grin
began to slide across his face.  "But you could."
	"Oh no," Lestat said.  "I'm already in enough trouble with this
coven.  I'm not going to help you lie."
	"Come on, Lestat.  It'll be just like old times."
	"No.  Tonight's already too much like old times.  I see no need to
make it worse for myself."
	"Fine," Santino got up from the bed in a huff.  He grabbed his
jacket and headed for the door.  "You don't have to help me if you don't
want to.  I just thought you'd like the excuse to come to the set with
me and make it look like you weren't doing it because you wanted to find
Louis and Gabrielle again."
	"Hang on, Santy, I'm right behind you."

_______________________________________________________________________
Post 173: Armand and Marius

	Armand was so still in Marius' arms that the elder vampire
finally pulled back, concerned.  "Ragazzo...?"
	"I never knew."  The response was so soft that Marius had
to strain to hear it.  "I never even guessed.  What it must have
been like for you."  Armand's dark eyes seemed unfocused, fixed on a
distant point even as he stared at Marius.  "For so long, you were
the only vision of hope I carried.  Then, even that faded, and there
was nothing.  I became... nothing."
	"And now?" Marius breathed.
	"Now?"  Suddenly Armand blinked, focusing once more on the face
before him.  "Now, Marius, there is nothing to forgive.  I am not as
I once was.  We are beyond questions of forgiveness.  I simply needed to
know.  Now I do.  For that I thank you."  He brushed a stray strand of
hair from Marius' face.  
	For many centuries Armand's memory of Marius had been one of
the Master - all powerful.  Lately they had altered slightly, to that
of the wise guardian.  But never before could he remember seeing, even
in his mind's eye, Marius as vulnerable.  It astounded him that he
placed such value on what he, Armand, thought and felt.  Even now.
He shook his head, a sad smile playing on his lips.  "I'm not the
only wounded one now, am I?" he asked softly.
	He had startled him, so much was obvious.  But Armand simply
smiled again.  "Let me hold you, now.  Perhaps we both need this."
And again he gathered Marius into his arms.

_______________________________________________________________________
Post 174: Marius and Armand

	Marius tried to remain firm for a moment, to sustain the image of 
calm and control. But then Armand's arms went around him and all hope of 
salvaging his much battered dignity vanished. He let himself sink into 
that embrace, the small trickle of tears becoming a flood of all of the 
grief and pain over the years that he had never allowed himself to show. 
The quiet sobs choked his breath, sending shudders through him as he 
tried to control himself. "I'm sorry," he cried softly. "I'm so sorry..." 
He didn't know whether he meant for all of the years, or for the moment 
right then. Armand said nothing, merely held him, passing no judgement, 
nothing but compassion in those dark eyes. That look alone could break 
all of Marius' barriers, bring his careful shields crashing down around 
his feet. 
	He took a deep breath, then another, trying to bring back some 
measure of calm. Shakily, he reached out, brushing aside a few stray 
curls of auburn hair, and then running feather-light fingers over 
beautifully sculpted cheeks. Cupping Armand's chin in his hand, he gently 
ran his thumb over the soft lips. Timeless beauty, forever caught outside 
of the ravaging streams of age. It had entranced him five hundred years 
before, and he could still loose himself in those bottomless eyes. 
	Another breath, and another. Beat of two hearts, and Marius' knew 
his own was pounding a frantic rhythm. Slowly, he leaned down, his breath 
caressing Armand's cool skin. "I love you," he whispered, and then 
captured Armand's lips with his own.

______________________________________________________________________
Post 175: Louis and Tom

Louis was on his feet and out of the tent. Lestat had done more than 
'teach Tom a lesson'. This could be some of the worst trouble Lestat had 
managed to get himself into in a long time.

Louis watched from the edge of the field as Tom spun around hollering his 
affections for Lestat and fell flat on his back.  This would look 
wonderful on the front page of the National Enquirer, Louis thought.

Quietly, Louis walked across the field to where Tom lay on his back moaning.
He knelt next to him and bent over him. "Can you hear me?" He asked in a 
soft voice.

Tom's eyes opened and focused on Louis. He raised his head. "Louis! You're 
Louis! Were's Lestat? I have to find him... I must have him!" Tom's eyes 
crossed and his head fell back on the ground.

Louis shook his head. "What am I going to do with you, Lestat. You've 
managed to make him fall in love with you." Louis picked up Tom and 
carried him back to his trailer. Tom muttered Lestat's name over and over.
Louis opened the trailer door with his agile mind and carried Tom inside. 

"Now, my friend, the first thing you're going to do is take a shower. The 
I think you'd better take a little nap."

Louis pulled Toms clothes off and propped him up in the shower stall. The 
water, apart from making Tom smell a hell of a lot better, did nothing else.
Louis wrapped him in a bathsheet and tucked him into the narrow bed. 

"Bon Soir, mon ami." Louis looked at the sleeping Tom from the doorway. 
"I can't say that it hasn't been fun!"

Louis shut the door and headed across the field to look for Lestat.

_____________________________________________________________________
Post 176: Armand and Marius

	Armand responded at once, the kiss demanding a response,
lasting forever.  Then he shifted slightly, drawing Marius down until
they both lay full length in the soft grass.  From there he took the
lead.  He worked his own special magic, weaving a spell of seduction
he had labored centuries to perfect.  And with each motion he seemed
to say "I'm not the boy you knew.  See the man I have become.  Know
me now."
	Finally, panting and spent, Marius lay in his arms once more.
Armand nuzzled his throat gently.  "I love you."  For one brief moment,
it was as though they had never parted.  Their devotion, one to the
other, as perfect as the day of Armand's creation.

_____________________________________________________________________
Post 177: Marius and Armand

	"I love you."
	Marius closed his eyes, shuddering. Those words went through his 
very soul, pierced his heart and sent little shivers through him. In 
Armand's soft voice each words was new, and beautiful beyond compare. 
Marius turned his head, resting his forehead lightly against Armand's 
chest. He could feel the heart beat there, through the bone, a strong and 
steady throb that brought a center to his world.
	Raising up onto one elbow, he looked down at Armand. The face was 
that of the boy he remembered, each curve and angle of his beautiful face 
picked out in moonlit shadows of ebony and silver. Grass had threaded 
it's way through his tangled curls and his skin was damp with the sweat 
of their lovemaking, his expression one of relaxation and trusting, all 
barriers gone. It had been five hundred years since Marius had seen him 
thus, and the reality was a thousand times more breathtaking then the memory.
	But the eyes that looked up at him were the eyes of a man, not of 
an innocent boy. A man he barely knew at all, but desperately wanted to 
know better. He looked into that face, those eyes, trying to find the 
words and failing. Finally, he bent, kissing the softly parted lips, 
trying to communicate in gesture and touch what he could not put into the 
clumsy medium of words.

_____________________________________________________________________
Post 178: David and Daniel

     "David!  Please you have to help me find Armand, I can't read him
remember?  He's been hurt, Lestat sent him some nightmare. It had something
to do with his mortal life...no one has seen him yet and I'm worried. Will
you just scan for him?"  David stopped and turned to Daniel and almost
told him that he hadn't the time to deal with that. But one look at Daniel's
pleading eyes...those violet eyes, and David gave in. After all, what would
a few more minutes hurt, most of the damage had already been done.
     "Okay Daniel but remember, Armand isn't exactly free with his thoughts.
If he doesn't want anyone to hear them, then not even Mekare could help you."
Daniel shook his head in understanding and David began to scan. He found
him almost immediately which was a surprised. Armand's thoughts were as
transpearent as glass. He was with someone...rather intimately. Should he
tell Daniel this? Daniel was so worried, he didn't want to break his heart.
Then he heard the name that made his blood run cold ::Marius::  Quickly
he scanned for Marius to confirm Armand's image ::Mi Amadeo:: he heard
very distinctively. "THIER TOGETHER!"  Daniel jumped back a little, startled
by David's reaction.
     "Who is together?"
     "Who do you think!"  he shouted, "Marius and Armand!"
     "So. Marius is like his father, if Armand was troubled he would probably
go to him."
     "NO! you don't understand! Their 'TOGETHER'!"  Now Daniel understood what
he meant. Armand had done it to him again, but he should have been used to it
by now. But why was David upset about this?  "Daniel come with me, we're going
to get a few answers out of them!" He grabbed Daniel and flew to the sight
where Armand and Marius were in the midst of heated passion.
     "So, that is what you think of us!" David said in a angry voice as the
two elder vampires still lay on the ground a bit in shock. "This is what we
get for our worries!  Come Daniel, leave them to each other! You and I
have our own business to attend to!"  And he took to the air once again
with Daniel in his arms.

_____________________________________________________________________
Post 179: David and Daniel

     No sooner had David taken to the air, then he was struck by grief.
How could he judge Marius like that? The night before *HE* had been
with Santino! Marius must have found out and sought consolation from
Armand. He landed in a wooded area not too far from where Armand and
Marius had been.

     "I'm sorry Daniel, I had no right to do that to you or them...I
...I don't know what has come over me."  Daniel could see the pain in
David's eyes, it was deeper then even his own.
     "I don't understand David...why are you so upset?"
     "Because I drove him to Armand's arms!  He would have been with me
if I wasn't such a smug sanctimonious bloody English bastard! I've ruined it
for myself and now I have dragged you and Santino into it!"  Daniel looked
puzzled.
     "What does Sant--"
     "Don't stay with me Daniel, I'll only lead you to ruin!"  But Daniel
only put his arm on David's shoulder.
     "I'd rather not leave. Do you want to talk about it?  I'm a good
listener."  David looked into those violet eyes again. They were so beautiful
and thoughtful. This is what Louis and Armand must have felt when they first
layed eyes on him. "Please, I need to talk with someone, Armand never has
time for me anymore...and after seeing *that*!" David could't take his eyes
off him!  Why?!
     "No, you better leave Daniel...I'm...not in a 'talking' mood."
     "We could do whatever you want." He said so innocently. So innocent
was his manner, that it was seductive. He had learned much from Armand.
     "Daniel...do you really want to do this?"

_____________________________________________________________________
Post 180: Marius and David

	He had no idea how long it had been that they had lain there, 
sometimes talking quietly, sometimes just holding each other, sometimes 
more. Time hadn't seemed to matter, the entire outside real world had 
been a myth, all of their troubles vanishing. It was just the two of 
them, wrapped in bliss, a memory become reality.
	And then the real world intruded with a viscious stab.
	Marius had, in some sort of almost instinctive paternal fashion, 
tried to shield Armand. But David's weapon of choice was words, not 
physical force, and it was with words that he struck out at them.
"So this is what you think of us?" Such pain in that voice, and rightious 
anger- Marius had flinched back. And the look in Daniel's eyes, as he 
turned to Armand, had been enough to make stone feel shame. Armand had 
not looked, had not raised his eyes to meet his fledgling's accusing gaze.
	David had left, had taken Daniel with him. Like a tornado, come 
and gone in a split second, leaving devestation in it's wake. Marius 
managed to catch his breath.
	"Armand...?"
	Slowly, Armand raised his eyes to meet Marius'. His expression 
was very sober. "He's angry. They both are."
	Marius swallowed. It would be so easy to just fall back into 
Armand's arms, let the comfort and safety engulf him again. But he 
couldn't. "I have to go after him."
	Armand nodded, but said nothing. Marius hesitated. "Armand?"
	"Go," Armand breathed softly. But his dark eyes were haunted, and 
Marius could almost hear the words that cried out from their dark depths- 
::Don't leave me again!::
	"I have to go, I have to talk to David..." And then, abruptly, he 
reached out, drew Armand to him for a searing kiss that held desperation 
in it. "I'll be back. As soon as I can. I swear it."
	He got up, struggled quickly into his clothes, and took to the 
air after David. He couldn't look back, or hesitate. If he did, he would 
never leave. He would stay there, with Armand, to hell with David and all 
the rest of the world.
	Going up, which normally made him uneasy, seemed to clear his 
mind. David had come barging in on them, shouting accusations and laying 
blame. But David wasn't blame free himself, was he? Outside of their 
little created pocket of safety the troubles that had driven him to seek 
out Armand that evening came back to him. And with it came the anger. How 
DARE David shout at him, when it was David who had jumped into Santino's 
arms the night before without care or caution? HOW DARE HE???
	David wasn't far, just a little ways away, with Daniel. They were 
talking, voices low, David upset and Daniel trying to be helpful. Marius 
dropped out of the night sky to land beside them, like an avenging angel 
from the heavens.
	David blanched a bit when he saw Marius, and Daniel's eyes 
widened. Marius reached out and took Daniel's shoulder, gently, giving 
him a little push. His voice was anything but gentle, though, cold and 
harsh. "Go. Back to Armand, to Louis, I don't care. Just go." Daniel took 
one look in Marius' face and went.
	David was trying to bluster a bit, drawing himself up, opening 
his mouth to protest. Marius grabbed him, the motion too fast for David 
to evade, wrapping his hands in David's shirt and slamming him back 
against a tree. "How DARE you?" he hissed, giving David a little shake. 
"Damn it, how DARE you? How dare you say things like that to me, to 
Armand, when you threw me out last night and ran to Santino? Don't deny 
it! I can smell his damn cologne on you, I SAW you last night! Armand and 
I may have to apologize, but I think YOU have a hell of alot more 
explaining to do! Why, David, WHY???"