Friday, May 05, 2006

19: Some random craziness and Louis's grudge

Stat is my sensei, becos he's my piano teacher now.


A behind-the-scenes of we three just going nuts! I got all this down in my journal while we were talking, so I cannot guarantee its accuracy. I might have misunderstood some parts, because there was plenty of banter, joking and witty humour. Way too much. The guys were in a hyper mood. The normally serious Louis was also bantering. Our Lestat was dressed in his best new aquamarine suit with lace. Mr Counselor (Louis de Pointe) had chosen one of Lestat’s clothes, a gold rimmed dark blue suit. His own are all worn and tattered.

Brat (Lestat) jumped in as suddenly as a firebolt. “Louis how much do you like me? Rate from 1 to 10, 10 being the most passion!”

“Hmm, 6.”

“6? Why not 8? I’m a lovable boy.” Brat asked incredulously. He pouted like a sulking feline who has lost his match. We cracked up.

“You’re funny, witty, crazy and seductive. Actually not bad. Okay, seven.”

“Bianca, yourself?”

I thought for awhile. Lestat pleaded with me C’mon, don’t be mean. I would give you full marks! Don’t be calculative k? Plllllleeeeeease.

Don’t give me a migraine will ya? I replied. Ok full. I was rewarded with a hyper bouncing of the sofa.

Louis gave a very petulant expression. I shrugged.

They also wanted to know more about my abilities. I can talk freely about my kind. “Hey, your summoning of the bats and the lightning was nothing short of fascinating. I’m impressed.”

“Thank you sensei,” I bowed 15 degrees. That night I was wearing my white and pink flowers’ kimono. It was a present from my Japanese distant cousin Sumiko. The vampires did not want me to be sexually stimulating, so skirts usually had to be long. A kimono is just right------- it covers all parts of the female body, long sleeved and to the floor.

“Your welcome. How do I say that in Japanese?” I told them to say hai because you acknowledge the other person rather than say welcome. Lestat bowed too.

“You have to keep bowing,”I demoed “If the other person does. It is polite. Remember, no hugging or intimacy allowed guys.”
“Why not? How about handshake?”

“Iiee, no. Louis, They feel shy. And do not stare, eye contact. Westerners, like us, believe in eye contact right? but Japanese are very very timid and passive. They will retreat further if you look them in the face.”

Louis smiled. “All right, geisha. Thank you. What is it, darling?” His boyfriend bounced harder, his curla messing up naturally and he giggled. “Now now don’t be a spoilt-baby- puppy. Stop that.You are messing up your new clothes.”

Lestat stopped, reached over and squeezed Louis in a sidelong hug.

“Okey. Tell us more about Shapers. It is a kind of art I understand. What else to it? Are all animals Shapers?”

We are different animals. Wolf, hyena, big cat, bird…. Anything, as long as you are not a bat, scorpion, insect. If your parents were Felines, you can only Change into a feline. It is also encouraged among us to interbreed, mate with other Races. For example, I am a hawk, if I want my kids to have another choice other than Avian, my husband should ideally be a hoofed animal. Then my kids can be hoofed animals and Avians too.

Louis asked me, “What if you cannot? Does anyone get leftout in the gene pool?”

“No that seldom happens. All of our kind have at least some power, minimal or strong. The Council usually elect the strongest Blood. Omaga’s family still holds the leadership position because the Great Ones had purely Owl genes. Yes, Prince?”

Lestat combed back some of his hair from his face and looked neat again. “Bianca, what of the mixed races? Since they are encouraged to carry on the, how do I put this, practice, can’t they be leaders as well?”

“Yes they can. It depends on democratic voting. Very similar to human governments.”

I related the Gifts of our people. Avians are the most powerful, we can summon other lower animals to our aid, control the weather and prophesize. Healing too, but that is only for a fraction of us who are lucky to have the genes. Cats or dogs have roughly the same abilities to jump and run with great speed, stamina and have super strength. However I don’t know if this can match a vampire’s, or a creature of the darkness. We are the Life as opposed to the dead.

“Can you do it for long periods of time, Krys? Is it tiring?” He came over to sit with me and made me feel shy when he trained his bright pupils on me. He closed them. I felt very Asian shy. Heheh.

:”Not too long. It is exhausting to hold to our animal shape for a day. But with improvement, you can actually become the beast for years. Our gurus have managed to achieve that. They stay in isolation and study more of our mysterious planet.”

There was a phase where we needed isolation from all other people. That was going to hurt my friends, and I didn't think I could help them to understand this overtime.

They were puzzled as to why I blocked up my mind with a reinforced steel wall.

******************
After that, Louis announced that he had prepared a full meal for us. “Yay!”I exclaimed. “But… um pardon me. You didn’t have to, Louis.”

“I wanted to.” I sniffed. He was worried that he had said something wrong. Lestat took out the box of tissue. I felt touched that Louis went to such lengths. Quiet but definitely not restrained in his action. Then I recoiled: these are not humans. Monsters.

You have to be wary of us. It is only natural. For we are undead, Lestat said softly into my head. I happily ate the meal, macaroni with the sweet sauce, mixed vegetables and salmon. I like to fish for it during my practical. It is the best fish I’ve ever had! The introvert was very silent. We both talked to fill up his space.

What is wrong?

It is alright. But his voice was contrary to his words. It trembled like a loose rock on the edge of a cliff. Are you full?

“Yes,”I responded still not convinced. Lestat watched him, sending question marks telepathically into my mind, because he could not Read his junior. Louis is totally impassive, whether angry, sad or hurt. I shook my head. “Louis. I… I didn’t mean to hurt you. You’re not a monster.”


The shoulders seemed to lift up as he sucked in a breath. “No. It’s not what you called me. Or us. It does not make a difference. Could you leave me now? In peace? I have to wash up,” he told me abruptly, running the water. The clinking of porcelain and utensils ironically made it a homely atmosphere.


I pulled Lestat out and told him I was sorry. The brat prince gazed softly at me and shook his head. I don’t mind. You just… felt wary that’s all. But Louis is softer than I. Come, I’ll send you home now. Firmly he steered me to the door.

But…

Sensibly princie talked, Shh. He is hurt by what you said. Okay? And he may blowup if you try to make it up now. We walked to the open space in front of the house. His soft hair blew back, his shirt ruffled. He meticulously folded out his collar, then shook out his ruffs. I wondered why.
Usually the vain preter was not meticulous to this extent. He was nervous?

Lestat, I wish I could take it back. It’s my human part, it keeps its fear of you. I am scared it’s too late------- I confided, beginning to cry. Sorrow, regret.

Lestat laid a gentle hand on my head and stroked. It oddly calmed me.

I should not have Made him. It was my selfish desire. Lioncourt spoke when we stopped at the river. I wanted someone to share the pain with me. Ours is a cool Gift, but a despondent person will worsen with time. Louis is a person…. who’s constantly worrying he will hurt somebody. Nicolas was a victim of the Gift. Before his destruction I wouldn’t have believed anybody will actually suffer from it.

Do you, Lestat chan? Do you still feel the huge weight press upon you as millennia after millennia move on? I had not considered this aspect of it before.


He rubbed his nose. Took my hand. “Be careful. Can you see the roots sticking out?” I concentrated hard on not tripping. I did not. I gasped when the vampire grabbed me by the waist and lifted me over the canal.
We were at my house now. Lestat urged me to go. “Go on. I’ll leave now.”

“Sit down for a while. My mom insists.” I tugged his hand. He considered this then followed me in.

“Lestat! Hello.” Mom asked if she could make him a drink. She took his hands and scrutinized him up close. He was shy for he seemed at a loss for words. “Please come and settle down. We finished supper. Let’s talk about
the new opera….”

Lestat smiled stiffly. It was natural to other people who looked on, but I understood. I went to make a glass of juice. Pretend to drink it k? I communicated.

Okay. Thank you. I came to accompany them and my boyfriend sipped half heartedly at the juice. Later he might pour it into the grass. Usually even when we go out, the preters will discard some of the drinks at the restaurants.

“Madame, did you pretend to be my mother? When I was ill?” Lestat posed into the conversation. I felt sad. Mom and I had Concealed this spell and we even gave him some Forgetmenot!

She nodded. “I had to. You------- were in great need. We are friends, almost neighbours. And I haven’t thanked you yet for taking care of my only daughter. I often neglect her in my hectic life.”

Lestat laughed and they spoke in french for a while. I laid my hand on his lap, cocked my head. What are you talking about?

Trivials my love. Alright, I wanna go now. I don’t want to leave Louis cher by himself. Goodbye.


****************

Mom came back in November, a month before my birthday. She would be home for about 3 weeks, then depart for Switzerland to continue expanding their business. My parents sell exotic plants and recommend herbal remedies. As you can tell, she is an expert on diagnosis, practical healing with white magic and when you are ill she knows the right herbs to make you well. Tonight I was not going over because no one would be in. Lestat had an appointment with a friend. I had not heard from Pointe for a long while. He simply seemed to have vanished from Laconia. I Sent him a greeting.
Please don’t hold it against me. I still want to be friends.

Mom posed me a question as she was cooking some basil and tomato soup for dinner. “Is he truly recovered, Monsieur de Lioncourt? I sense he will feel more stressed and agonies in the future.”

“You mean he’s still going to be sick? But the hospital discharged him and said there shouldn’t be a problem,” I replied, wringing my hands. Oh no, if she could feel Lestat’s waning aura, it was most likely true. I totally forgot about what the doctor told us. I related it to her.

Mom sighed, stirring the soup and then ladled it on a bowl for me to taste. I deemed it edible. She put the flame on simmer.

“Mom, is it hard to obtain the Chirac?” I took out the bowls, plates and tools to set up. “Why do you sigh?”


“Honey. The doctors wouldn’t recommend it for a vampire. Because the Dark Gift normally heals them. The problem I felt in his waning aura was it does not seem to pulse with the usual energy. Hmm, but Lestat hadn’t Drunk yet right? That could be a cause too. Chirac does not cure the Dark folk. I-------I am sorry Krystal. I know you love him. He won’t die.”


I smiled and hugged my mother. Yes I ought to be contented by that. Protection against death. Strong, immune to the Sun and the flames had not killed him. Legend. Nothing will happen. He is my teacher, my confidante and we communicate so well. Nothing should go wrong.

I had a nightmare about a rose being consumed by blue flames. I could not speak and just watched it disappear. Damnit! No one understood its meaning.

The night after, Lestat called me. “Hello! Ma cherie. Are you busy now?”

“Hi. What’s up? Yea I need to do my final draft for English,” I answered, reading through my sources. Paraphrasing. It is hard work! Don’t want to plagiarise.

“Am I bothering you? I feel uncomfortable. My stomach is hurting and I feel nauseous.”

I stopped. Poor poor guy. “Maybe you overstretched yourself. Was it late when you came home last dawn? Wait, Lestat. Um, since when did you feel like this?”

He coughed. “Um, tonight when I awoke. Yes, I came home at three. Couldn’t detach myself…. all these social obligations. He’s an acquaintance. I didn’t know I would feel exhausted. I was all right yesterday. Ow….” The phone rustled. I waited, my heart in my mouth.


“Hello? Hello, Lestat. Any painkillers? Is Louis with you?” I freaked. Finally he came back, panting. It quieted after five minutes.


“No. Louis… is not in. Hasn’t for nights. I’m sorry to bother you, Bianca.”

I smiled, sent him a joyful gold color. He laughed. “Stop it. I am your student and a student cares for her teacher. Now lie down. Are you? I’ll come see you tomorrow night ok?”

“I am in bed now. This cordless is cool, good thing we bought it. Then I can chitchat when I’m not in the living room. You are a wonderful avian. My beloved cherished student. Go do your homework now. I just wanted to hear you. I always bother people when I don’t feel well. Heheh.”


I stopped him from being the 17th C polite and restrained, so unnatural. How? I persuaded him to stay online with me and we talked. Lestat added more information about Mojo and how I ought to visit his home in New Orleans, where his doggie and tenant lady resided. Ahhh! My English homework was in trouble then. But for a friend I would do anything. I got a B for it though.
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