Armand

HE RACED IN THE OPEN FRONT DOOR A HEARTBEAT BEHIND DANIEL, SKIDDING TO A HALT IN THE PARLOR DOORWAY, UNABLE TO BELIEVE HIS EYES!
LOUIS AND LESTAT WERE TUMBLED TOGETHER ON THE FLOOR, LOUIS' CLOTHES IN DISARRAY, HIS LIPS SWOLLEN WHERE THEY'D BEEN KISSED,HIS EXPRESSION BOTH STRICKEN AND GUILT RIDDEN.
LESTAT LOOKED CONFUSED AND UPSET AT BEING INTERRUPTED, DANIEL HAD HIM BY THE HAIR AND WAS DRAGGING HIM BACKWARD ACROSS THE CARPET , OFF LOUIS.
ARMAND KNEW HE NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING, LESTAT WAS INFINITELY STRONGER THAN DANIEL, COULD CRUSH HIM IN A SECOND, LUCKILY FOR THE MOMENT HE WAS TOO DISORIENTED TO RESIST OR FIGHT BACK.

HE RUSHED FORWARD, GRABBING DANIEL BY THE ARM, URGING HIM TO LET GO.

*DON'T, MON AMOUR* HE PLEADED *IT'S ALL RIGHT, I KNOW HIM*

DANIEL TURNED ON HIM, COLDLY FURIOUS.

*WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU KNOW HIM? WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?*

LESTAT HAD GATHERED HIMSELF AND RISEN FROM THE FLOOR, STRAIGHTENING HIS CLOTHES, SMOOTHING HIS FINGERS THROUGH HIS HAIR. HE HELD OUT HIS HAND, TOTALLY AT EASE.

* ' EVENING * HE OFFERED *I'M LESTAT, YOU MUST BE DANIEL.*

DANIEL LOOKED AT HIM IN DISBELIEF.

ARMAND TRIED TO SMOOTH THINGS OVER.

*LOOK, DANIEL, I'M SURE THERE'S A PERFECTLY REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THIS*

BUT DANIEL JUST SHOT HIM A BLOODCURDLING LOOK AND WENT OVER TO LOUIS, WHO SAT COWERING IN A CORNER, BLOOD TEARS FLOWING FREELY DOWN HIS LOVELY FACE.
DANIEL CROUCHED DOWN AND TOOK LOUIS IN HIS ARMS, MURMURING ENDEARMENTS IN A LOW VOICE AND ROCKING HIM SLOWLY IN HIS ARMS, HIS BACK TURNED TO ARMAND, IGNORING HIM.

*LESTAT* HE HISSED *EXPLAIN YOURSELF! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?*

*HELPING YOU* LESTAT HISSED BACK.

ARMAND THREW HIS HANDS IN THE AIR

*AND HOW MAY I ASK IS RAPING DANIEL'S FLAT MATE SUPPOSED TO HELP ME?*

LESTAT WAS INDIGNANT.

*I WAS NOT RAPING HIM, MERELY EXPRESSING MY ADMIRATION IN A..UM...PHYSICAL FASHION*

* OH GOD,* ARMAND MOANED, SLAPPING HIS HAND TO HIS FOREHEAD IN FRUSTRATION

* BUY A CLUE, 'STAT. LOOK AT HIM, HE'S A WRECK.
WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING ? *

LESTAT

LESTAT HAD THE GRACE TO LOOK A LITTLE SHAMEFACED.
HIS POOR LOUIS WAS A LITTLE OVERCOME, PERHAPS HE JUST WASN'T READY FOR LESTAT'S AWESOME LOVEMAKING TECHNIQUE, SUCH A DELICATE SOUL.
BUT HE HAD TO MAKE ARMAND UNDERSTAND THAT HE'D NEVER DO ANYTHING TO DELIBERATELY HURT HIS LOUIS, THIS WAS A SIMPLE MISUNDERSTANDING, HE'D SOON SORT IT OUT.

FEELING OVERCOME WITH REMORSE, LESTAT STRAIGHTENED HIS CLOTHES AGAIN AND CROSSED THE ROOM TO WHERE DANIEL AND LOUIS WERE STILL CROUCHED, LOCKED IN EACH OTHERS ARMS.
HE FELT A SMALL PANG OF JEALOUSY, SEEING HIS LOUIS IN THE ARMS OF ANOTHER MAN, BUT HE REASONED THAT IT WOULDN'T BE FOR LONG, SOON LOUIS WOULD BE HIS AND ARMAND COULD HAVE HIS DANIEL.
LORD KNEW WHAT THE ATTRACTION WAS THERE THOUGH, HIS FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE DELICIOUS DANIEL WAS OF A THOROUGHLY DISAGREEABLE AND RUDE YOUNG MAN.
STILL, EACH TO HIS OWN, ARMAND WAS WELCOME TO HIM.

HE CLEARED HIS THROAT AND DANIEL LOOKED UP.

*LOOK, LOUIS, DANIEL, I'M SORRY ABOUT THIS, I GOT A LITTLE LOST IN THE MOMENT.
IT'S NOT EVERY DAY THAT ONE MEETS THE MAN OF HIS DREAMS YOU KNOW.
BUT I DO FEEL A LITTLE MISLED HERE, AFTER ALL, HE ENCOURAGED ME, INVITED ME IN,
GAVE ME ALL HIS ATTENTION, FLATTERED ME.............*

HE BROKE OFF AS DANIEL ROSE, FISTS CLENCHED, ONLY TO BE HALTED BY LOUIS' HAND ON HIS ARM.
HE WAS SHAKING HIS HEAD, HAIR FALLING FETCHINGLY ACROSS HIS TEAR DRENCHED FACE,

* NO DANIEL,* LOUIS WHISPERED FEARFULLY, * JUST MAKE THEM LEAVE, PLEASE.* HE PLEADED.

DANIEL PATTED LOUIS' HAND AND TURNED TO FACE LESTAT FULLY, POINTING TOWARD THE DOOR.

*OUT* HE GROUND OUT THROUGH CLENCHED TEETH.

LESTAT CONSIDERED THIS, PERHAPS IT WOULD BE WISE TO COME BACK ANOTHER TIME.
LOUIS SEEMED OVERWHELMED BY THE ENORMITY OF IT ALL, FALLING INSTANTLY IN LOVE WITH A LIVING LEGEND MUST BE DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE OF HIS DELICATE SENSIBILITIES.

ARMAND WAS STANDING MUTELY BY THE DOOR, INDICATING THEY SHOULD GO.

*WE'LL COME BACK SOME OTHER TIME.*

LESTAT SMILED ENTICINGLY AT LOUIS, WHO HAD ALSO RISEN TO HIS FEET AND WAS STANDING CLOSE TO DANIEL, DANIEL'S ARM WAS AROUND HIS WAIST.
LESTAT FELT ANOTHER PANG OF ENVY, BUT SUPRESSED IT WITH SURPRISING SELF CONTROL.

LOUIS WHISPERED SOMETHING TO DANIEL WHO ANSWERED HIM SOFTLY,

*IT'LL BE OKAY, LOUIS. I'LL MAKE SURE OF IT*

THEN HE TURNED TO WHERE ARMAND AND LESTAT WERE STANDING BY THE DOOR.

*I DON'T WANT TO EVER SEE EITHER OF YOU AGAIN. *

HE LOOKED STRAIGHT AT ARMAND AS HE SAID IT, THE HURT AND ANGER PLAIN TO SEE.

*I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU TWO ARE UP TO, WHAT WAS PLANNED HERE TONIGHT, BUT I SWEAR, IF I EVER SEE YOU.....EITHER OF YOU, ANYWHERE NEAR THIS HOUSE OR NEAR LOUIS AGAIN I WILL FIND A WAY TO KILL YOU. I KNOW THAT YOU ARE BOTH STRONGER THAN I, BUT THAT WON'T STOP ME. I. WILL. FIND. A. WAY. *

LESTAT PRIVATELY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS ALL A BIT MELODRAMATIC, BUT AS ARMAND WAS ALREADY HALFWAY OUT THE DOOR, HE DIDN'T FEEL LIKE STAYING TO DEBATE THE POINT AND FOLLOWED HIM OUT INTO THE NIGHT.
THEY MARCHED ALONG IN SILENCE FOR A WHILE, ANGER WAS COMING OFF ARMAND IN WAVES AND LESTAT FIGURED A LITTLE DIPLOMATIC SILENCE WAS PROBABLY CALLED FOR.
THEY WERE MERE STEPS FROM HOME WHEN ARMAND STOPPED SUDDENLY, PIVOTING ON ONE FOOT.

*WHY THE F*CK DO I PUT UP WITH YOU LESTAT! * HE EXPLODED.
* I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR, WHAT, A COUPLE OF HUNDRED YEARS, AND IN THAT TIME, IN ALL THE TIME I'VE BEEN STUCK WITH YOU, HAVE YOU EVER...EVER MANAGED TO DO ANYTHING RIGHT? NO! THAT'S THE ANSWER, NO!
YOU SCREWED UP EACH AND EVERY BLOODY TIME. AND THIS TIME...*

HE WAGGLED HIS FINGER IN FRONT OF LESTAT'S NOSE.

*...THIS TIME YOU HAVE REALLY GONE AND DONE IT!
ONE THING, THE ONE SIMPLY PERFECT THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME AND YOU...... YOU RUIN IT IN ONE NIGHT!*

*GODDAMMIT ! *

HE KICKED OUT AT AN EMPTY CAN, SENDING IT SPINNING OVER THE ROOFTOPS WITH INCREDIBLE VELOCITY BEFORE RESUMING THE TIRADE.

*NO WONDER MARIUS RAN OFF! MADE A BLOODY HUGE MISTAKE WITH HIS SECOND FLEDGLING, FOISTS HIS ERROR OFF ONTO HIS FIRST FLEDGLING AND HEADS FOR THE HILLS, NEVER TO BE SEEN AGAIN AND I'M LEFT BABYSITTING THE FIFTH STOOGE.*

HE STOPPED AND LOOKED AROUND, AS IF SEARCHING FOR A HILL OF HIS OWN.

*GET INSIDE* HE HISSED *GET INTO THE HOUSE AND DO. NOT. SPEAK. TO. ME. *

LESTAT FELT HE SHOULD APOLOGISE, HE'D REALLY UPSET ARMAND THIS TIME, HE COULD ALWAYS TELL WHEN HE'D GONE TOO FAR, ARMAND STARTED BRINGING THAT NO-GOOD PERIPATETIC MARIUS INTO THE CONVERSATION.

BUT WHEN HE TRIED TO HE GOT THE FINGER IN THE FACE AGAIN.

* NOT. ONE. WORD. LESTAT. *

The Taming of the Shrew
PART FOUR

LESTAT

THIS WAS NOT GOOD, NOT GOOD AT ALL.
LESTAT PACED AND TURNED AND PACED AND TURNED IN THE CONFINES OF HIS BEDROOM.
IT HAD BEEN OVER A WEEK NOW, AND STILL ARMAND WOULD NOT TALK TO HIM. ON TOP OF THAT, LESTAT FELT HORRID HIMSELF.
HE WANTED, NO, NEEDED TO SEE HIS LOUIS, TO APOLOGIZE.
WHATEVER IT TOOK TO GET BACK INTO HIS BELOVED'S GOOD GRACES. BUT HE DARE NOT GO NEAR THE PLACE.
DANIEL WAS BEHAVING LIKE SOME KIND OF MUTANT NIGHT CRAWLING WATCHDOG.
HE NEVER LEFT LOUIS ALONE.
THEY WENT OUT TOGETHER, DANIEL WAITING AT A DISCREET DISTANCE WHILE LOUIS DRANK HIS DINNER, THEY WENT TO THE MOVIES TOGETHER, FOR WALKS TOGETHER, THEN CAME HOME TOGETHER.
LESTAT GROUND HIS FANGS IN FRUSTRATION AT THE MEMORY.
IT SHOULD BE HIM PROTECTING LOUIS, LOOKING AFTER HIM, TAKING HIM PLACES.
LOUIS WAS MEANT TO BE HIS.
IT WAS DESTINED,FOREORDAINED, FATED, FENG SHUI EVEN, COULDN'T DANIEL SEE THAT!
WHY WAS HE KEEPING THEM APART?

WELL, IT COULDN'T GO ON.
HE NEEDED A PLAN!
HE'D HAVE TO WOO LOUIS, MAKE HIS APOLOGY AS HEARTFELT AND AS GRAND AS HE COULD POSSIBLY MANAGE, CHARMS THE PANTS OFF HIM,
HOPEFULLY LITERALLY.
HE WANTED LOUIS TO FALL INTO HIS ARMS AND NEVER LET GO.
THEN MAYBE, ARMAND COULD HAVE THAT OBNOXIOUS DANIEL PERSON ALL TO HIMSELF AND THEN MAYBE HE'D STOP THE SILENT TREATMENT.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, LESTAT HAD A BRAINWAVE AND CAME TO A SKIDDING HALT IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW.
ONE OF HIS BRILLIANT PLANS WAS TAKING SHAPE IN HIS MIND.
LOUIS WAS AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY KIND OF A GUY...LESTAT WOULD DO SOME EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY KIND OF WOOING.
HE RUBBED HIS HANDS TOGETHER IN GLEE AND HURRIED INTO THE HALL TO FIND THE YELLOW PAGES.

ARMAND

ARMAND WAITED TO CROSS AT THE PEDESTRIAN LIGHTS, HEARTILY WISHING THAT THROWING HIMSELF IN FRONT OF A TRUCK WAS AN OPTION.
OR BETTER YET, THAT THROWING LESTAT IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK WAS WORTHWHILE.
THAT BUFFOON HAD RUINED EVERYTHING.
THE LIGHTS CHANGED AND ARMAND CROSSED AND ENTERED THE CAFE ON THE CORNER.
HE BOUGHT A CAFE LATTE AND CHOSE A TABLE OUTSIDE, UNDER THE CANOPY WHERE HE COULD SIT AND NURSE IT WITHOUT ATTRACTING ATTENTION.
HE SIGHED INTO HIS DRINK AND GAVE INTO HIS DEPRESSION.
HE'D ONLY DRAGGED HIMSELF INTO THIS CENTURY BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH AS IT WAS.
LEARNED ALL THE NEW TECHNOLOGY, BOUGHT HIMSELF UP TO DATE WITH TELEVISION, LITERATURE, CURRENT EVENTS AND WHO'S WHO. ADOPTED THE DRESS, THE MANNERISMS AND THE SPEECH OF THESE TIMES WITH GREAT THOROUGHNESS, ONLY TO FIND THAT HE STILL COULD FEEL THIS GREAT SPACE INSIDE
HIMSELF, AN EMPTINESS THAT YEARNED TO BE FILLED.
THIS TIME LAST WEEK, HE FINALLY THOUGHT HE'D FOUND WHAT HE NEEDED.
DANIEL WAS BRIGHT, CHARMING, CONNECTED IN EVERY WAY TO ARMAND'S FEELINGS.
HE WAS GORGEOUS AND WITTY AND...............
OH DAMN, THIS WAS POINTLESS. THANKS TO LESTAT HE'D LOST ANY CHANCE HE MIGHT HAVE HAD AT HAPINESS WITH DANIEL. OF ALL THE STUPID, WITLESS THINGS TO DO...........

HIS MORDANT MUSINGS WERE INTERRUPTED BY A SOFT, ALMOST APOLOGETIC COUGH.
ARMAND WEARILY RAISED HIS EYES, EXPECTING TO SEE THE WAITER OR ANOTHER CUSTOMER WANTING TO SHARE THE TABLE, BUT HE WAS AMAZED TO SEE THAT HIS VISITOR WAS NONE OTHER THAN LOUIS!

* MAY I JOIN YOU? * THE DARK ONE ASKED POLITELY.

ARMAND INDICATED THE CHAIR OPPOSITE WITH A WAVE OF HIS HAND.

* I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE YOU AGAIN. * HE SAID WITH A WRY GRIMACE.

* I NEVER EXPECTED TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO APPROACH YOU. * LOUIS ANSWERED WITH SELF-DEPRECATING HUMOUR.

ARMAND LAUGHED OUT LOUD, CAUSING ADMIRING HEADS TO TURN. THE FIRST, REAL LAUGH HE'D HAD IN A WEEK.
SO, THE MOUSE HAD TEETH, DID HE?

* SO...OUT BY YOURSELF? *

ARMAND WENT FISHING, RUNNING HIS FINGER AROUND THE TOP OF THE COFFEE CUP TO HIDE HIS BLUSH.

* NON, DANIEL IS NEARBY. HE HAS BEEN VERY SOLICTIOUS, VERY KIND THE LAST FEW DAYS. *

* SO I HEARD. * ARMAND OFFERED.

* AH, YOUR UM.. FRIEND NO DOUBT. I HAVE FELT HIM NEAR SEVERAL TIMES THE LAST FEW NIGHTS.
SO HAS DANIEL, I'M AFRAID. THIS IS WHY HE COMES WITH ME EVERYWHERE,
HE KNOWS THAT YOUR FRIEND IS A LITTLE...OVERWHELMING TO ME.*

AGAIN ARMAND LAUGHED.

* OVERWHELMING? HOW POLITE. AND WHAT AN UNDERSTATEMENT.*

LOUIS' EYES LIT UP WITH MERRIMENT. ARMAND COULDN'T HELP BUT ADMIRE THE CHANGE IT WROUGHT.
NO WONDER LESTAT HAD GONE GA-GA OVER THIS ONE, HE WAS TRULY BEAUTIFUL. NOT DANIEL, OF COURSE, BUT HE HAD A CERTAIN...APPEAL.

*AH, SO I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS ASSESSMENT. TELL ME, DOES HE ALWAYS ATTEMPT TO RAVISH HIS NEW ACQUAINTANCES?*

* IT'S JUST HIS WAY. LESTAT CAN BE A LITTLE OVEREXCITABLE, BUT I ASSURE YOU, HE MEANT YOU NO HARM. HE JUST HAS A TINY PROBLEM WITH HIS SELF-CONTROL*

#..AND WITH HIS EGO# ARMAND THOUGHT TO HIMSELF WASPISHLY.

HE WAS NOT PREPARED TO FORGIVE LESTAT FOR THIS.. YET.
HE KNEW THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO EVENTUALLY.
LESTAT WAS CHARMING, LIKE QUICKSILVER, MERCURIAL AND EGOTISTICAL SURELY, BUT HIS HEART WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO STAY ANGRY WITH HIM FOR LONG.
MAYBE FOR JUST A DECADE OR TWO.

* I SEE THAT NOW* LOUIS ANSWERED

* AND I HAVE FULLY RECOVERED I ASSURE YOU.*
* BUT THAT IS NOT THE REASON I CAME OVER HERE......*

HIS VOICE TRAILED OFF, SUDDENLY DIFFIDENT AGAIN AND ARMAND'S EYES NARROWED IN SPECULATION.

* PLEASE LOUIS, SAY WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND. I PROMISE NOT TO BITE.*

ARMAND SMILED TO EASE THE TENSION.
LOUIS WAS LEANING BACK IN HIS CHAIR, HEAD TILTED SLIGHTLY TO ONE SIDE AND ARMAND SUSPECTED THAT HE WAS LISTENING FOR DANIEL. APPARENTLY SATISFIED WITH WHAT HE FOUND, LOUIS WAVED AWAY THE HOVERING WAITER WITH A POLITE * I'M FINE, THANK YOU * AND LEANED FORWARD, PROPPING HIS HEAD ON HIS HANDS, ELBOWS ON THE TABLE, CLOSING THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM.

* IT'S ABOUT DANIEL......* HE BEGAN

* A DELICATE SUBJECT.. I DON'T KNOW THAT I AM RIGHT TO INTERFERE...*

*INTERFERE AWAY* ARMAND INTERJECTED, FEELING A SMALL SURGE OF HOPE.

LOUIS SIGHED AND TUCKING HIS HAIR BEHIND HIS EAR OUT OF HIS WAY, CONTINUED,

* I LOVE DANIEL DEARLY, YOU UNDERSTAND. HE IS MY BEST FRIEND AND HAS SEEN ME THROUGH MANY A DARK TIME. I WAS MADE IN ERROR ,YOU SEE. AT LEAST, THAT IS WHAT I NOW BELIEVE HAPPENED. I AWOKE ONE NIGHT AND I WAS A VAMPIRE.
I HAD NO MAKER THAT I KNEW, I HAD TO ADJUST AND LEARN ON MY OWN AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT.....*

HIS VOICE TRAILED OFF FOR A MOMENT, THEN WITH A SHRUG OF HIS SHOULDERS HE CONTINUED...

* BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I AM HERE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT. DANIEL IS VERY PRECIOUS TO ME, HE SAVED MY SANITY AND I WISH TO HELP SAVE HIS. * HE GRINNED AGAIN AT THIS LITTLE JOKE.

* I WISH ONLY THE BEST POSSIBLE THINGS FOR HIM AND IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT I SOUGHT YOU OUT TONIGHT.....*
* IT SEEMS TO ME THAT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS FOR DANIEL IS SITTING OPPOSITE ME AT THIS MOMENT*

ARMAND WENT TO SPEAK, BUT LOUIS SILENCED HIM WITH A GRACEFUL WAVE OF HIS HAND. HE WENT ON...

* HE HAS BEEN MISERABLE THIS LAST WEEK, SINCE THAT NIGHT YOUR FRIEND LESTAT GOT FRESH WITH ME. *

ARMAND COULDN'T HELP SMILING AGAIN. #FRESH?#
LOUIS SMILED TOO, THEN GREW SERIOUS AGAIN.

* I THINK PERHAPS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN FEELING THE SAME?*

ARMAND NODDED.

* I AM NOT HELPLESS AND DISTRAUGHT ALL THE TIME AS DANIEL WOULD HAVE YOU THINK.
I AM A LOT STRONGER THAN DANIEL KNOWS AND MUCH MORE AWARE OF WHAT GOES ON AROUND ME THAN HE REALISES. AND I KNOW THAT HE MISSES YOUR COMPANY.
I THINK PERHAPS, IF YOU ARE WILLING, THAT YOU AND I SHOULD RETURN TO MY APARTMENT AND WAIT FOR DANIEL. THEN PERHAPS WE CAN SORT THIS ALL OUT TO EVERYONE'S SATISFACTION.
DANIEL IS STILL VERY ANGRY WITH LESTAT'S BEHAVIOUR.
BUT I AM NOT THE FRAGILE CREATURE THAT DANIEL INSISTS I AM, AND I AM DETERMINED THAT I WILL NOT BE THE OBSTACLE STANDING IN THE WAY HERE.
IF IT IS TRULY WHAT DANIEL WANTS THEN I WILL DO WHAT IS WITHIN MY POWER TO BRING IT ABOUT. *

ARMAND ALMOST FELT LIKE CRYING WITH RELIEF.
NOT THAT HE BELIEVED ALL THAT LOUIS HAD SAID.
LOUIS WAS A 'FRAGILE CREATURE', BUT ALSO A VERY BRAVE ONE AND A LOVING FRIEND, WILLING TO STEP BACK IF THAT WAS WHAT WAS NEEDED.

#IF THIS WORKS OUT# ARMAND VOWED SILENTLY, # I SHALL MAKE CERTAIN THAT THIS ONE NEVER WANTS FOR ANYTHING, THAT HE IS AS HAPPY AND AS CARE-FREE AS IT IS WITHIN MY POWER TO MAKE HIM. SUCH LOVE AND LOYALTY DESERVES NO LESS.#

BUT HE SAID NONE OF THIS, INSTEAD OFFERING A SMILE.

*SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL IDEA. THANK YOU, LOUIS. *

LOUIS LOOKED RELIEVED AND ARMAND REALISED THAT HE'D BEEN AFRAID THE ENTIRE TIME.
AFRAID OF SPEAKING TO A VIRTUAL STRANGER, OF DISCUSSING PRIVATE BUSINESS, OF BEING OUT ALONE WITHOUT DANIEL. HIS ADMIRATION FOR THIS STRANGE, FEY BEING ROSE.

HE GOT UP FROM THE TABLE, TOSSING DOWN A NOTE, AND HE AND LOUIS LEFT THE CAFE, CHATTING IDLY ABOUT ANYTHING BUT WHAT WAS REALLY ON THEIR MINDS,
CROSSING THE STREET AND TURNING DOWN THE ROAD TOWARD LOUIS AND DANIEL'S APARTMENT.
AS THEY ROUNDED THE LAST CORNER THEY BOTH NOTICED A HUGE TRUCK PARKED OPPOSITE THE HOUSE.
THE REAR DOORS WERE OPEN AND STRANGE NOISES ISSUED FROM WITHIN.
ARMAND LOOKED INQUIRINGLY AT LOUIS WHO SHRUGGED HIS IGNORANCE.
ARMAND'S MIND WAS MORE ON WHAT HE WOULD SAY TO DANIEL THAN WITH WHAT SOMEONE WAS DOING FERRETING AROUND IN THE BACK OF A TRUCK AT 3A.M AND HE FAILED TO NOTICE LESTAT'S CAR, WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK AS HE WAITED FOR LOUIS TO OPEN THE FRONT DOOR.

The Taming of the Shrew
PART FIVE

ARMAND, DANIEL AND LOUIS

WHEN IT HAPPENED, EVERYTHING WAS GOING SWIMMINGLY.
DANIEL HAD RETURNED, ALIGHTING EASILY ON THE REAR BALCONY, SURPRISED AND HOSTILE WHEN HE FIRST SPOTTED ARMAND CURLED UP IN THE ARMCHAIR BESIDE THE BLAZING FIRE,
HE'D CALMED DOWN ONCE LOUIS EXPLAINED THAT HE HAD SOUGHT ARMAND OUT AND INVITED HIM HOME.
AFTER THAT, DANIEL SEEMED ALMOST AS EAGER AS ARMAND TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT AGAIN.

ARMAND EXPLAINED LESTAT, AS WELL AS HE WAS ABLE, EXPLAINING LESTAT TO ANYONE WAS ALWAYS DIFFICULT, EVEN TO THOSE WHO'D MET HIM.
HE'D EVEN ENLIGHTENED LOUIS ABOUT LESTAT'S STRANGE BEHAVIOUR, CAUSING LOUIS TO BLUSH PROFUSELY WHICH HAD ONLY GIVEN DANIEL AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO TEASE HIM.
THE CAPTIVATING YET MODEST LOUIS REFUSED TO BELIEVE THAT ANYONE AS JOYEUX, AS INTENSE AND AS VITAL AS LESTAT DE LIONCOURT COULD FIND HIM ATTRACTIVE.

NOW THEY ALL SAT AROUND IN AMIABLE COMPANIONSHIP, LOUIS LEANING BACK ON THE COUCH NEAREST THE GRATE WARMING HIMSELF, LOOKING VERY SATISFIED AS HE INDUGENTLY WATCHED ARMAND AND DANIEL GETTING ON LIKE THE PROVERBIAL HOUSE ON FIRE.

THERE HAD BEEN CLATTERS AND BANGS FROM THE STREET BELOW FOR THE LAST HOUR OR SO, BUT THE VAMPIRES HAD IGNORED IT.
AT ONE POINT DANIEL EVEN FANCIED HE HEARD A FRENCH HORN COMING FROM BELOW, BUT HE WAS TOO CONTENT RIGHT WHERE HE WAS, INCHES FROM ARMAND, TO BOTHER INVESTIGATING.

SO THE SUDDEN TUMULT COMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS FROM OUTSIDE WAS A VERY UNPLEASANT SURPRISE.
LOUIS, STARTLED, LEAPT ABOUT FIVE FEET IN THE AIR, ALMOST COMING TO REST IN THE FIREPLACE.
DANIEL WAS ON HIS FEET IN AN INSTANT, AS WAS ARMAND, CURSING COLORFULLY IN MANY FOREIGN AND QUITE A FEW DEAD LANGUAGES.
SOMEHOW, HIS GUT TOLD HIM, WHATEVER THIS HORRIBLE NOISE WAS, IT WAS LESTAT-RELATED AND THAT DREADFUL THOUGHT TEMPORARILY FROZE HIM TO THE SPOT.

LOUIS BEAT THEM BOTH TO THE WINDOW, THROWING THE FRENCH DOORS OPEN AND STEPPING OUT ONTO THE BALCONY, BEFORE EITHER OF THEM COULD RECOVER. THE NOISE, THEY COULD NOW TELL, WAS MUSIC.
SOMEONE OUT THERE HAD ONE HELL OF A HUGE BOOMBOX GOING.
IT SOUNDED LIKE A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH STRINGS, HORNS, PIANO, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
THE NEIGHBOURS WERE GOING TO CRUCIFY SOMEONE!

LOUIS WAS LEANING OVER, HE APPEARED TO BE LOOKING DIRECTLY DOWN BELOW, BUT WHEN HE TURNED TO INDICATE TO THEM THAT THEY SHOULD JOIN HIM, THEY COULD SEE THAT HE WAS BENT OVER NEARLY DOUBLE, LAUGHING.
HIS EYES WERE GLOWING WITH DELIGHT AND TEARS WERE RUNNING DOWN HIS CHEEKS AS HE HELD HIS ACHING SIDES.

*OH, DANIEL. * HE SPUTTERED * COME SEE! *

DANIEL TOO, HAD HIS SUSPICIONS AND WHEN FROM OUTSIDE A VOICE ROSE IN SONG HIS WORST FEARS WERE CONFIRMED.
HE BEAT ARMAND TO THE BALCONY BY A MILLISECOND AND HIS MOUTH GAPED OPEN AT THE SIGHT BEFORE HIM.....
THE ENTIRE ROAD WAS COVERED WITH MUSICIANS!

IT WAS INDEED A SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA, IN FULL WHITE TIE AND TAILS, FRENCH HORN AND ALL.
AND THERE, IN THE CENTRE OF THIS MELODIOUS CHAOS, WAS LESTAT DE LIONCOURT, DRESSED AS A VENETIAN GONDLIER, A BUNCH OF ROSES IN ONE HAND AND A BATON IN THE OTHER.
CONDUCTING, AS THE ORCHESTRA PLAYED 'THAT'S AMORE', AND SINGING IN A ROBUST VOICE....

' WHEN THE MOON HITS YOUR EYE LIKE A BIG PIZZA PIE, THAAAAAAAAT'S AMORE..'

LOUIS SLID SLOWLY, INEXORABLY DOWN THE RAILING AND WAS A QUIVERING, GIGGLING MESS ON THE TILES.
ARMAND WAS SMILING TOO, YOU COULDN'T HELP IT WHEN LESTAT WENT COMPLETELY OVER THE TOP, LAUGHING WAS THE ONLY SANE OPTION.
HE LOOKED AT DANIEL, SHAKING HIS HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE IN MUTE APOLOGY AND DANIEL BEGAN TO LAUGH TOO, THIS REALLY WAS TOO MUCH !
ARMAND COULD ONLY GIVE THANKS THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING NOW INSTEAD OF EARLIER, BEFORE HE AND DANIEL HAD TALKED AND RECONCILED.
HE SHUDDERED TO THINK WHAT DANIEL MIGHT HAVE DONE IN THAT INSTANCE.

BELOW, THE SONG ENDED TO A SMATTERING OF APPLAUSE FROM THE APPARENTLY LATENTLY ROMANTIC NEIGHBOURS.
LESTAT LEAPT ATOP THE PIANO, STRUCK A POSE AND BEGAN TO RECITE.

'HOW DO I LOVE THEE, LET ME COUNT THE WAYS....'

WHICH MUST HAVE BEEN VERY HARD TO DO BECAUSE HE HAD A ROSE CLENCHED IN HIS TEETH AND IT SOUNDED TO ARMAND MORE LIKE..

'OWWW DO I OFF DEE, LED ME COW DE VAYS'

DANIEL LEANED OVER THE RAILING AND YELLED AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS,

* OKAY, OKAY. ENOUGH ALREADY! *

SILENCE FELL.
LESTAT STAYED ON THE PIANO TOP, SEMI-CRUSHED ROSE IN HIS HAND, HE APPEARED TO BE POUTING AT THE INTERRUPTION, BUT IT WAS HARD TO TELL IN THE DARKNESS.
DANIEL HALF-TURNED AND DREW ARMAND AGAINST HIM, SETTLING HIS ARM AROUND ARMAND'S WAIST IN A PROPRIETORAL GESTURE.
LOUIS MANAGED TO LEVER HIMSELF UP FROM THE TILES AND LOOKED OVER THE BALCONY AGAIN BEFORE TURNING TO DANIEL.
HE WAS SMILING, LOOKING HAPPILY AT DANIEL'S ARM AND ARMAND'S CONTENTED EXPRESSION. HE INDICATED LESTAT WITH FINGER,

* DO YOU THINK I COULD CONTROL HIM, MON CHER? * HE ASKED DANIEL

DANIEL PRETENDED TO THINK....

*LOUIS, I THINK YOU MAY VERY WELL BE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN.*

THEY ALL SMILED CONSPIRATORIALLY BEFORE LOUIS LEANED OVER ONCE MORE AND CALLED TO LESTAT, * I'M COMING DOWN.*

LESTAT WHOOPED AND THE NEIGHBOURS' CHEERED.

LOUIS VANISHED DOWN THE STAIRS LEAVING ARMAND AND DANIEL WRAPPED IN EACH OTHERS ARMS, OBLIVIOUS.

LESTAT WAITED NEAR THE DOOR, FEELING VERY PLEASED WITH HIMSELF.
ANOTHER OF HIS GRAND PLANS HAD WORKED OUT EXCEEDINGLY WELL.
ARMAND WAS HAPPY AND HE HIMSELF WAS ABOUT TO BE.
HE KNEW HE COULD MAKE LOUIS HAPPY TOO.
HIS BEAUTIFUL, SENSITIVE LOUIS WANTED HIM, NO, NEEDED HIM.
HE WOULD BEND THE VERY FIBRE OF HIS BEING TO THE TASK, FOR ETERNITY, IF THATS WHAT IT TOOK.
AND HE FERVENTLY HOPED THAT IT WOULD.
EXCEEDINGLY WELL INDEED.

# OH, THIS IS WONDERFUL; THIS IS PERFECT! # HE THOUGHT.

HE COULD FEEL A REAL LAUGHING FIT COMING ON.

fin