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Armand (vagabond_child) wrote in labyrinth_rpg,
@ 2009-04-30 20:15:00

Entry tags:

armand, complete, day seven, juniper golding

Who: Armand and Juniper
When: Day Seven, sometime after midnight. After the meeting with Pandora and Claudia.
What: Pouty!Armand is pouty!
Where: In front of Juniper's dorm
Rating: Uh... rated at least PG-13, most likely. This is Armand, after all.
Status: Complete

Armand had had better nights. In all honesty, he'd had no idea his journal entry would stir so much up. Okay, that wasn't exactly true. He had known it was likely that some stuff would be stirred up, or else he probably wouldn't have stated things the way he did. But not to the point it had been. He wasn't talking to Schuldig. As far as he could tell, Juniper wasn't talking to Edward. He wasn't, either, but that wasn't a big change. All in all, however, things were a fairly large mess.

Not to mention, he'd come face to face with people from his past. Pandora, his strong, cold, sister, and Claudia, the child vampire he had condemned to death. All in all, he was rather out of sorts. So when the chance had come to meet up with Juniper, the vampire had taken it, without particularly thinking about it. He just needed to get away for a little while, needed some time to pull his mind together. So without speaking to Schuldig any further, as he was rather annoyed with him in general, he walked out into the late night/early morning.

The sunrise was several hours off. He could feel it coming, but it wasn't close. He had time. His shoulders hunched against a chill that he didn't even really feel, and he stuffed his hands in his pockets. He looked like a beautiful teenaged boy, out at night, alone. He was so good at this guise that he didn't even think about it, just adopted it. When he got in front of Juniper's dorm, he stopped, leaned against a tree, and waited.

He sent out no mental call this time, either with the power of compulsion or otherwise. She knew he was coming, after all. So he just stayed right where he was, leaning wearily against the tree, thinking. His forehead rested against the rough bark, the events of the night playing through his head. All in all? He was not what could be considered a happy little vampire.

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juniper_golding
2009-04-30 10:49 pm UTC (link)

Juniper finished with her fight with Edward and stalked out of her room, barely resisting the urge to slam the door behind her. So much for a great wedding night. This was not how she was supposed to be spending her time. She was supposed to be having an obnoxious amount of sex, cuddling, and generally being a ball of vomit-inducing lovieness. She was not supposed to be telling her brand new husband that he was being a controlling, manipulative prat, and going to meet a vampire that liked the taste of her blood.

But, since when had Juniper done anything normally?

At least she managed to get herself dressed before storming out. It was a near thing, but she'd managed. Walking along in a pair of jeans and the sweater she's stolen from Edward, Juniper left her dorm building with the knowledge that she was being watched. By Schuldig, or Edward, and quite likely, both. But she did want to talk to Armand privately, and while she would tell Edward all of it once he stopped being a pain in the ass, she didn't want people listening in during it. Life would be so much easier if she were really a witch, and not just frequently called one. She could have put up a bubble of silence or something. But the best she could do was to block her thoughts from anyone but Armand, and to hope that he could manage to do the same.

I suddenly feel sorry for fish in tanks, she thought with sarcastic amusement, coming to a stop a couple of feet from Armand and canting her eyes around at the buildings, where unseen eyes no doubt peeped through curtains. She wasn't far enough away from him to be rude, but not close enough to be a problem either.

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vagabond_child
2009-04-30 10:58 pm UTC (link)

He felt as Juniper approached, and gave her a bit of a smile. Straightening up, he sort of half-ironically bowed his head to her, and yes, once he caught the gist of what she was doing, he did the same. He had excellent control over his thoughts, so he made sure that only Juniper could read them, at least without major effort. He knew that chances were very good that Schuldig had followed him, and he would bet anything that Edward was about, too.

Yes. Apparently, my word has no value. He shrugged slightly, and then turned to face her. His eyes locked with hers, to make the communication clearer, but it would have looked very odd to anyone watching. Two people simply staring at each other, and with Armand, at least, neither moving nor blinking.

I mean it, you know His mental tone was almost conversational. I won't touch you. Mostly, I keep my word, unless there's a very good reason not to. He tilted his head thoughtfully to the side, and his eyes narrowed a little, though they stayed trained on her. So. Here we are. Now what?

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juniper_golding
2009-04-30 11:09 pm UTC (link)

Wonderful. Juniper could tell that he'd done the same as she, so at least in that way, their conversation was private, as long as neither one of them opened their mouths. Which was going to be a challenge for Juniper, if things got emotional at all, but she'd do her best to not suddenly start speaking aloud. She didn't know how Schuldig's range was, but Edward's was far too good to not assume she'd be overheard.

It does with me, Juniper assured him. After all, he'd promised her once that he'd not turn or kill her, and he hadn't done that. He'd just got a little free with his privileges, was all. Funny, how calm she was about the whole situation, when the last time she'd seen him, she'd broken her hand on his face. Which, incidentally, was in perfect working order now, if he noticed at all. It felt like so long ago.

Juniper nodded and sat down in the grass, her back to the tree Armand had been leaning against and her forearms balanced on bent knees. It was late, it had been a really long day, and she was only human, after all. She snorted softly at his question. Well, we can sit here and bitch about our significant others, or we can do what I wanted to do in the first place. Talk. You said I wasn't a petrol pump, Armand, she recapped, looking up at him. And I want to believe that. But you've got to give me something.

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vagabond_child
2009-04-30 11:28 pm UTC (link)

As Juniper seated herself, Armand nodded. He sometimes forgot the limits of being human, since, as a vampire, he could easily stay in one position all night, and not be so much as stiff when he stood up. But when she sat, he was reminded, and he even dropped down so he was sitting, as well. He kept the distance between them, close enough to easily 'converse', but far enough away that no one could accuse them of anything. He knew very well it would take very little to get accused of something.

At least it does with someone. His 'voice' was a little bitter, and obviously, he was still somewhat pouty about the whole thing. Schuldig didn't trust him to meet with Juniper, and maybe, deep down, he could understand why. But he still didn't like it. His promise had been sincere. At her random thought of her hand, his gaze dropped down, and he smiled. Good. I'm glad. Did it make you feel better to hit me?

He sighed softly, however, and crossed his legs as he looked at her. She made an excellent point. The way he was feeling right now, the sun might rise before he was done pouting about Schuldig's mocking and lack of trust. No. No, you weren't a petrol pump. His nose wrinkled just slightly at what he considered a very crude way of putting it. I like you, Juniper. Which seemed painfully inadequate. I don't know if you are aware, but our king supplies blood to me. No, it was you, your essence, that I was after when I came to you. He thought a bit longer, then sighed. And that's what has Schuldig so upset, I suppose. Why he doesn't trust me.

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juniper_golding
2009-04-30 11:32 pm UTC (link)

Juniper let out a soft little laugh. There, let Edward hear that. She was spitting mad at him and laughing with Armand. Wanna talk about pain...Juniper let out a little breath, centering herself. It did, she admitted. And then it started to hurt, she added with a roll of her eyes and a tone that was clearly the mental equivalent to banging her head against the wall. I am sorry that I hit you. Though you did deserve it.

She listened to him with her head tilted curiously to the side, her arms folded on her knees and her chin resting on them. Some of what he said, she appreciated, and others...Well, it was a bit confusing.

My essence? she asked with a little shake of her head. I don't know what you mean. Well obviously I know what the word means, but in regard to an actual person? I don't understand how that's something that can be obtained, she admitted, ripping up a pinch of grass in her frustration. Juniper hated not understanding things.

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vagabond_child
2009-04-30 11:39 pm UTC (link)

As Juniper laughed, Armand let out a soft chuckle as well. The whole situation was so ridiculous, really, and he couldn't help but see the funny side of it, to some extent. You really shouldn't have hit me so hard, you know. It had hurt him as well, but not so much as a mark had been left on his pale skin. Much paler now than when they'd first met, actually. He'd been sort of tanned, but time, and feeding, had done much to heal him.

He sighed as he tried to explain, and knew he was making a mess out of it. It occured to him again that there were some things that it was very, very difficult to explain to someone that wasn't from his world, and a vampire, as well. He wouldn't have had to explain to Lestat, or Marius, or even Louis. They would know.

Mortals... humans... are more than just food. He did his best to explain once more. Well, they can be food, and they can be just food, but all vampires in my world know that it is so much better, so much more satisfying, if there is a connection between vampire and victim. It's my specialty, forming and maintaining that connection. His eyes once more half-closed as he tried to think of the best way of explaining this. I had that with you, and more. I knew you, the first time, and then was drawn back once more.

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juniper_golding
2009-04-30 11:51 pm UTC (link)

A siren call, Juniper thought with a tinge of a smug sort of satisfaction, despite her attempt to not feel it, and certainly not communicate it. But really, it was a heady thing, and quite a complement. And more than anything else right then, that was what she needed. To not feel like a monster just because she wanted to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Ugh. She really had to stop thinking about Edward for a few minutes, or she was going to go insane.

She shifted, leaning her head against the tree and closing her eyes, far too in tune with Armand's mental voice to need the eye contact at this point. Like shagging, she equated. It's always better with someone you love. She could see Schuldig's problem, and it wasn't a detail she was going to be sharing with anyone. Because Armand hadn't been the only one to feel it.

So what now? We can't even be friends? Because clearly, that kind of connection just couldn't happen anymore. There were too many people that would get hurt in the process, including the pair of them. You scared me, so badly, the last time, Armand. But I don't want to hate you.

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vagabond_child
2009-05-01 12:07 am UTC (link)

Armand sighed when he heard her comment, but couldn't deny it. If he were in her position (and he had been while a mortal, in Marius' villa), he would have felt exactly the same way. He couldn't fault her for something he would do himself, not really. Something like that. He admitted, his gaze going down to the grass. Idly, his fingers played with the green stems. He felt her satisfaction, despite her efforts to hide it, and it made him smile a little.

Yes. Like that. He nodded, glad that, for once, he'd managed to communicate what he was trying to say. It can feel good with nearly anyone, so long as there is attraction, but it takes someone special to take it to a new level. And once you're in love, well... Despite his annoyance with Schuldig, he smiled slightly to himself as he thought of him. Once you're in love, nothing compares.

He raised his gaze to her, to simply look at her. When I was turned, there were few women like you. It was a strange admission, but one he felt like making, and his impulse control? Clearly not the best. The women were mostly cowed, subservient, to the men. There were few I could respect. I can respect you. I think that has something to do with it. He looked around for a moment, wondering if somewhere close, his lovers blue eyes watched intently. I want things that can't happen. I wish for the days of the past when I could wander the world, calling to people. I took that out on you. He hesitated for a moment. This next part didn't come easy to him. I'm... I'm sorry. If you would have me as a friend, I would be honored.

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juniper_golding
2009-05-01 09:27 pm UTC (link)

And you love Schuldig, Juniper commented shrewdly, looking at him with an odd sort of understanding smile. Pity that they were men, and therefore morons. Armand and Edward could have been friends, after a fashion. They were far more alike than they'd ever realise. Juniper hoped that, some day, they could get to a place where they weren't trying to kill each other, at the very least. I like him, she said of Armand's lover, nodding approvingly. He offered to help me with my abilities, and he's very funny. I think he's good for you, as annoyed as you are with him.

She listened to his reasonings and frowned. Then if you respect me, please, Armand, no more of that control business. I know it's fun for you, and maybe if I had the ability, I'd understand the rush a bit more, but...I'm not cowed or subservient, as you said. I could have dealt with you going for a nibble and moved on. But that? That was what got me so angry. Having no say in what was happening to me. Funny, telling a vampire, who by nature pretty much did whatever he wanted, that he should have asked permission. Oh well, weirder things had happened.

Juniper offered him a soft smile and reached out to brush the tips of her fingers against his in the grass, all the contact that she was going to risk for the evening. I would like that very much.

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vagabond_child
2009-05-01 10:35 pm UTC (link)

There was a long pause, as Armand thought about that. Eventually, he sighed almost silently, and nodded. Yes. I love him He shook his head. He drives me crazy. I don't think he loves me back, or at least, I'm not at all sure he does. But... you should know, if you've read my story, that I'm used to that. I can handle it. He was resigned, anyway, if not happy about it. Just the fact that Schuldig was allowing him to stay around was more than many others had done.

I so swear. I will not go into your mind and compel you to do anything. Although the very fact that he respected her made it both more tempting to do so, and more unthinkable. But if he made a promise, he would do his best to abide by it. And, really, Armand did tend to be quite easily led by whatever strong personality was around him.

Then we will be friends. He returned the smile, and though he wanted to touch her hand, left his own lying in the grass. Is all worked out between us, then, Juniper Golding? Or are you angry with me still for what I've done?

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juniper_golding
2009-05-01 11:03 pm UTC (link)

Juniper sighed. She had the most perfect love, when they weren't biting each other's heads off, and she wanted that for Armand. Hell, she wanted that for the whole world. Because when she was happy, she was so happy. That was a feeling that should have been free for anyone to have. Still, she said hopefully. Maybe he will grow into loving you. Not everyone is like you and I, Armand, Juniper told him with a little smile. So quick to love, so completely. And he wouldn't drive you crazy if you didn't care about him.

She nodded at his promise, thankful for it, and hoped that he'd keep it. I appreciate that, she told him with a smile.

Oh, you're still on my shit list, Juniper grinned, a teasing lilt to her thoughts. No, we're fine, Armand. I just hope that everything can be worked out everywhere else, she sighed, shaking her head and looking to the buildings, wondering where Edward was hiding. He's so mad at me for coming to see you. For not letting him tag along, she confessed, picking at her nails. I know that he's just concerned, protective, but sometimes I just want to kill him, she said with an internal chuckle, her shoulders shaking a little.

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vagabond_child
2009-05-02 10:30 pm UTC (link)

Armand didn't know if Juniper meant for him to see the shape of her thoughts, but he did. Out of some sort of politeness that he rarely showed, he didn't pry too deeply. Anyway, it hurt him, the little he did see. It felt too much like pity, and though it might not seem like it sometimes, the child-vampire had his own pride. So he backed away from her mind hastily, pain written briefly on his angelic features, though he quickly composed himself.

I will wait. I am not good at leaving. Others leave me. So it has always been. He smiled, though the expression had a touch of bitterness to it. Things will work out, in the end. I've noticed that they do, a ridiculous amount of the time.

The vampire shook his head. He cares about you. This is good. It means I don't have to hurt him, at least for that. He looked around briefly, wondering if Schuldig watched, or if he even cared enough to do so. I don't like it that he would stand in the way of our friendship, though. I think it says bad things about how much trust he holds, for me, and, more importantly, for you. In truth, the other vampire's attitudes bothered him, though he couldn't exactly put his finger on why. But who knows. It may yet all work out.

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juniper_golding
2009-05-07 05:35 pm UTC (link)

Privately, Juniper thought that Armand was a bit of a twit, letting himself get walked over like that, and expecting others to feel sorry for him in the process. But, she kept those thoughts to herself, knowing that they wouldn't serve anyone well. They tend to, yes, she agreed, giving him a smile. Love always found a way, in Juniper's experience.

Armand's own brand of protectiveness over Juniper had her shaking her head a bit. What was it with overprotective vampires latching on to her? She didn't know, but couldn't find it in herself to complain much.

He doesn't think I'll do anything, Juniper argued, quickly rising to Edward's defense. He just doesn't want me to die. What's wrong with that? I'm sure you feel the same way about your lover, don't you?

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vagabond_child
2009-05-07 05:43 pm UTC (link)

The vampire rose to his feet, with a bit of a look at the telepath. No, he didn't read her thoughts about him, which was a good thing. It probably would have made him even more angsty, and no one needed that. But it was her quickness to come to Edward's defense that really got to him. So he narrowed his eyes a bit as he looked down at her.

Of course not. But our dear King said we may not kill, if you'll remember. His mental tone was just slightly cool toward her. I find I've had enough of this conversation. And surely, your Edward will want you back now.

It was just too much, in his opinion, to be expected to sit around and listen to her defend someone who had threatened to tear him apart, literally. The fact that he was almost completely sure he could easily beat Edward made no difference. So, with one more look, he turned quickly on his heel and, to her, would seem to simply disappear.

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