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Beauty ([info]i_tame) wrote in [info]we_coexist,
@ 2011-08-21 22:23:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:honour bellaforte, lestat de lioncourt

Venture (Open)
She'd been in her cottage home in the City Park for nearly as long as the strange creatures roamed. It had been difficult for her to fail to meet her obligations at the bookstore, but her employer sent her a message shortly after she called in advising her that Bookmark Books was closed until further notice. Normally, that news would have disquieted her. But to Beauty, it was a blessed relief.

The whispering, invisible servants who set her clothing out, kept her cottage clean, and provided her meals continued to do so -- until tonight. Tonight, the whispers were quiet, and as the sun started down the curved sky, the light dinner fare decidedly did not appear on her small wooden table. Between the cracked window slats, Beauty watched how the sun sank, and asked the still air in her cottage whispered questions, and waited. And waited.

But nothing happened.

Finally, against her better judgment and with a racing heart, she slipped into her shoes and seized her money purse, and then very gently, very quietly cracked her door open. She would just have to find dinner for herself.

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[info]i_tame
2011-09-11 10:46 pm UTC (link)
"Ah," Beauty began, feeling terribly uncomfortable approaching the subject. "Two, really... The first one might be easier. I have no idea where to find someplace to eat. My... I usually take dinner in my cottage, but I have never had occasion to find it outside. All the shops I pass on my way to work are closed, and I... Well. I would be grateful for your guidance, should you have any."

But the second favor, now that was something far trickier, wasn't it? She took a breath. "The other... I hoped you could tell me how I could protect myself against Eric. I don't want to... I. I'm afraid," she finally said, simply. "I don't know what I should be doing to keep him away from me and to keep myself safe from... from y... your .. kind."

It was ungraceful. She didn't mean for it to be. Swallowing hard, she looked up at Lestat and hoped that he hadn't taken offense. How did one ask another to tell how to protect against the creatures that they were?

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-09-14 05:36 am UTC (link)
Lestat nodded. He would gladly escort the lady to dinner, so long as she provided him with something to go on as to her tastes.

Your kind.

Ah. Well, that was better than Babette's treatment of Louis, at least. 'Get thee behind me, Satan,' really did get old after a while. He considered how best to answer, quiet right down to his bones.

"Eric is not my kind," the vampire said simply. "It's a bit complicated but while we are similar we are not the same."

He'd promised Eric, too, that they had an accord. He would be breaking it to tell Honour how to harm him. But to protect?

"Steer clear of his club," Lestat said. "And the people who frequent it. Spend more time outside in the day time than you do at night." Eric had said destroying his heart would destroy him. "And... stakes. Stakes I think would kill him, if it came to that."

He smiled, briefly. "What type of food do you prefer? Where should I lead you?"

Eric would probably not appreciate this information being shared, but Lestat was hoping Honour would never have to use it, that staking a viking was not something she'd ever have to do.

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[info]i_tame
2011-09-18 10:54 pm UTC (link)
She was frowning at the cracks in the pavement as they walked. It was hard to understand how he and Eric were different, when he himself had named them as the same type of creature. Were there different breeds, like cats or dogs? Were there different races, like white and negro? He couldn't be kidding -- it must decidedly be complicated - and she was already confused.

The advice he gave her was also confusing. How did daytime and nighttime matter? It was true that Eric came right after sundown.... and now that she thought about it, she'd only ever seen Mssr. de Lioncourt in the evening as well -- was there a correlation? Did daytime make her safer?

And what was this about steaks? What did meat have to do with killing someone? She never had imagined herself the poisoning type. It was good to know that even creatures like them could be poisoned, though. She rubbed her forehead.

"Ah... French?" she asked tentatively, realizing at least enough by now that the City called food by its nationality sometimes. If she asked for something from her nation, then perhaps he'd lead her to some place that served delicious foods -- but she was fairly certain croissants and a cheese wheel were available anywhere!

A sidelong glance toward the one beside her showed her an almost normal profile. He was so dreadfully pale. And she noticed that he dressed more in the manner and custom to which she had grown used to at home -- unlike everyone else in the City. Unlike even herself at times, when the City forced her into some strange and scandalous state of dress that she blushed to wear.

What was he, really? "I will admit that I would like to know more about you and Eric, if you are allowed to share anything..." It was such a strange thing to say. She bit her bottom lip.

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-09-21 06:30 pm UTC (link)
Respecting Honour made all of this more difficult. Lestat could see that there was more on her mind, much more, than she was saying. He could see it, or he could put her more at ease, if only he weren't trying to be a gentleman.

It was enough to make him want to sigh. Heartily.

But French food, that he could find. "I haven't... eaten... in quite a long time," the vampire said. He did remember the Georgetown restaurants and bistros he'd frequented in the body of Raglan James, and his first taste of spaghetti. "I'll do my best. I know there's a French restaurant in the City, but I'd not be the one to ask if it's any good."

He could skim the minds of diners there, however. And he began to do that, trying to find where the City had put the place, where it'd got to.

And she wanted to know more. Lestat smiled, very slightly and very slowly.

"What would you like to know?"

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[info]i_tame
2011-09-26 12:42 am UTC (link)
It was difficult to hide her discomfort when he mentioned he hadn't... eaten -- at least, he hadn't eaten something other than people -- for some time. She managed, but only by practicing what she'd been forced to learn for the Parisian courts -- a bright smile that overtook everything else on her face. "Well," she said, looking up at him. "Everything, really... I know so little."

And then it was easier, as she let the smile relax and let him lead the way down the street. If she pretended she were at some grand gala, she could manage this. For now.

Above all things, she must remember not to think of him as a monster -- even though that's, exactly what he was. No, she reminded herself firmly, he had treated her like a gentleman, and she should treat him like one in return. It was a struggle. But she would not betray his kindness with fear and hate.

At least, she hoped she wouldn't.

Much.

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-09-29 11:08 pm UTC (link)
"Well, ma chere, ask. I'm afraid that while I do really enjoy talking about myself, I don't really know where to start-- or what you do and do not know."

He offered her a smile.

"Perhaps with... what? My life? My death? Ask away."

It was nice to have an audience again. Someone who really wanted to know, and was going to listen.

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[info]i_tame
2011-10-04 11:36 pm UTC (link)
"What makes you different from humans?"

It seemed the most obvious question. Beauty realized belatedly that it didn't have anything to do with who he was, but rather with what he was. It was very rude, and she blushed because of it.

Sheepishly glancing up at him, she winced, then smiled apologetically. "If you want to tell me," she said weakly.

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-10-11 08:44 pm UTC (link)
Well, if that wasn't the way to start off with the elephant in the middle of the room, Lestat really didn't know what was.

"Ah."

He also really didn't relish answering this question, at least not honestly. Perhaps he could simply omit details, like how he felt about drinking blood, at least until he knew Honour a bit better. Nothing said 'run for the hills, now, madam,' like 'I enjoy drinking human blood.'

He considered, eyebrow arching. "I am not alive," Lestat said. "My heart does not beat. I do not breathe. I do not change; my body will remain as it was when I died until the world ends."

He led them around a corner, toward where (it seemed, anyway, based on the thoughts of several citizens) the French restaurant had got to.

"I think that's the largest way in which I am different, though there are others."

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[info]i_tame
2011-10-17 02:25 am UTC (link)
"So you're... you're immortal, then...?" she asked, and if she was breathless, she told herself it was because of the walk. The idea was terrifying. Did he have a soul? How would he ever go to Heaven? Did he worship their God?

Could he die?

Could Eric? Was Eric also Godless?

Her palms were going cold and damp again -- and she had to remind herself not to do what she'd done before, which was completely lose control of herself. She took long, careful breaths and focused on keeping her steps straight and even, in time with him.

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-10-21 05:09 pm UTC (link)
Lestat shrugged. "Probably. That gets a touch complicated. I don't believe there is *true* immortality. When the world stops, everything on it will stop. There's no other choice. But inasmuch as something can exist forever, yes, I think I am."

Honour's breath started to change. He could both hear and feel it as they walked along. The restaurant she'd requested would not be far at all, now. A block or two perhaps.

"It isn't all it's cracked up to be," he added. "But this is what I am."

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[info]i_tame
2011-10-24 03:21 am UTC (link)
It would have been unkind to dispute him. Her heart told her that there was true immortality -- but it could only be found once someone passed from this life into the next. So perhaps he was right -- at least for himself. If he never passed from this life, then he would never really taste true immortality.

Suddenly, Beauty wasn't terrified of him. Instead, she pitied him. "It must be very difficult," she said gently. "Do you ever feel like.... Well...." She couldn't ask him if he ever felt like he was a monster, but... "Do you ever not like yourself?"

That would have been the saddest thing -- to be stuck with oneself through interminable centuries and to dislike oneself. She hoped it was not the case with him. And perhaps it wasn't the kindest question, either. She let out a breath and rounded the corner as he led her. Beauty decided she needed to learn how to be kinder; this wasn't going to do.

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-10-27 05:05 am UTC (link)
"Myself?"

Lestat felt his mouth move into a smirk. A small laugh accompanied it.

"Ma chere," he said, "I am much the same as I ever was. Only older. I'm still insufferable and insolent. I am still violent. I still wish to be, forever, the center of attention. I am still bad at being alone."

He turned his head to look at her as they arrived at the restaurant. "At the core, I'm still the same young man I was."

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[info]i_tame
2011-10-31 09:59 pm UTC (link)
He seemed very insistent that he was the same person he was before... whatever happened to turn him into what he was -- so insistent, that he needed to tell her twice. She tried to make sense of it. Was he trying to make her feel more at ease, trying to relate how he was like her? But he wasn't like her, not at all. He ..

She needed to stop it, and she told herself this firmly, silently. She was treating him, at least in her own head, as a monster. And she knew well enough that she'd act however she thought; everyone did, really. Well, her sisters were good at hiding their real feelings, honestly. But she wasn't. She'd never been.

Letting out a soft sigh, she nodded to him. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I think I'd be frightened, if I'd gone through what you did. I didn't think that you hadn't been changed by your ... by... I don't know exactly how to say... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend."

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-11-03 11:21 pm UTC (link)
Lestat chuckled, opening the door for her. "You didn't offend me. Don't worry."

A second or two later, a waiter came by to seat them, and saw them to a small table near the window of the restaurant. It was a nice enough place, Lestat thought, as far as restaurants went. He couldn't remember the last time food had mattered to him, aside from that strange winter in Georgetown.

He pulled Honour's chair out for her to sit before sitting down himself, and then offered her a smile. His fangs were carefully hidden.

"If you'd prefer to eat by yourself, I'll understand," Lestat said.

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[info]i_tame
2011-11-04 05:18 pm UTC (link)
It was awkward.

He made the offer because he must have known that it was awkward. She must have been doing a very poor job of hiding her discomfort around him. And that awareness made her feel even more awkward. Was there a good answer to his offer at all? She couldn't think of one.

Sitting down in the prooferred chair, she shook her head and smiled instead. "Please, I would love your company." And if it wasn't quite the truth, at least she smiled enough to make it seem like it was close to the truth. Perhaps it was. She still could use the information he had in his head, if only he would give more of it. The last few times they spoke, he hadn't told her much about the powers that vampires had that could captivate humans the way that Eric had captivated her. She'd asked -- she'd tried to -- but he was either unwilling or she was asking the wrong questions.

She imagined it was probably her fault.

Swallowing as the waitress took her order for tea for two, she waited until the lady was out of earshot before leaning across the table and whispering, "Do you ever get tired of answering my questions about you?"

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-11-14 11:06 pm UTC (link)
Lestat was old enough, and had spent enough time around humans--even as a young actor--to know that Honour was not being honest with him. He smiled, though: she was not being honest, but she was being quite polite.

Do you ever get tired of answering my questions about you?

The vampire beamed. "No," he said, without hesitation. "I quite enjoy talking about myself. It's a horrible character flaw, but it's very true. I very much like the attention, especially when it comes from good-hearted people like you."

He sat straight-backed in his chair, and narrowed his eyes very slightly, thinking.

"What is it you aren't asking me, I wonder?" His eyebrow arched. "I'd love to be fully honest with you, I just don't really relish the thought of either of us truly making an enemy of Eric."

Actually, that was not entirely true. Lestat would be very entertained by that, for certain. But Honour could end up very dead.

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[info]i_tame
2011-11-20 11:02 pm UTC (link)
Plucking at the edge of the open menu in front of her, Beauty gave her best smile. She was uncomfortable, she was out of sorts, and she was still trying to master her natural inclination against the strange creature across the table. It was quite a lot to keep straight. One breath, then another, then she let her shoulders raise and lower in the gesture her sisters always chided against. "So unladylike!" they used to say. She'd never been at home at court like them. She feared she never would have been, even had The City not plucked her away.

"I've asked you many times," she finally said, trying to temper her honesty with a gentle tone. "I'm afraid of Eric. I don't want to be under his spells again. I've asked to learn about you - about him - so that I can do whatever I might to protect myself. I still don't know what it is I can do, apart from staying out of the streets at night." She looked out the window where they'd been seated, then smiled wryly. "Actually, I'm not very good at following instructions, am I?"

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[info]i_liveforever
2011-11-23 07:49 pm UTC (link)
Lestat chuckled. "If everyone followed instructions, the world would be quite dull."

"I don't have the same powers that Eric does. I can't teach you how to shield yourself from him fully, I'm sorry to say, because I don't know how it's done. I can tell you what works on me."

He raised both eyebrows as he said the last word.

"My kind," he began, "call it the Mind Gift. And for us, it's the ability to read thoughts and sometimes manipulate them. But they can be shielded, if you concentrate. Imagine a brick wall, a steel vault, things like that, and shut your mind up. Lock it. That I can help you learn."

He sighed. "Eric's gift is not quite the same, my dear. What he does is called glamoring, and my best advice would be not to look him in the eye."

Resisting Eric's thrall wasn't going to be easy. He was a thousand--he'd seen milennia.

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[info]i_tame
2011-12-06 11:11 am UTC (link)
For the first time since they'd met, whether it was right or not, Beauty smiled -- and meant it. She couldn't say she exactly trusted Mssr. de Lioncourt, but at the very least, she felt he was being forthright with her. And he was giving her information she could use to protect herself against his kind, against Eric.

It seemed slim advice, but it was more than she'd had before they walked into the restaurant. Something then occurred to her and she blushed deeply. Had he been listening to her thoughts? She hoped not. The idea made her feel sick. But now that she thought of it, she couldn't dismiss it -- even though she also couldn't bring herself to ask. If he said yes, she didn't know exactly how she'd have to react -- but she was sure she'd not be talking with him again.

And she wanted to.

So instead, she smiled again. "Let's enjoy dinner, for now," she said gently. And that's what she set out on doing.

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