tampered | Log: Completed

Log: Completed

When: New Year's Eve
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Gren (

notapreacher) and Lestat (

vampbratprince)
Summary: Mama, can you tell me how vampires celebrate New Year's Eve?
Log: For as long as he can remember, he's been the musical entertainment somewhere on New Year's Eve. Tonight's the first time in years (he discounts his time in the Army and in prison because those were out of his control) that he's not playing saxophone somewhere.

In a way it's a relief, and so is the idea of just staying in and celebrating privately. Oh, he can share the champagne that's chilling in the refrigerator and the exquisite chocolate truffles sitting out on the counter. In fact, he plans to do just that. There's a quiet burn of happiness that goes along with the whole notion and he remembers from the few creative writing classes he took to pass the time back in high school that in fiction they say happiness is boring and it's struggle that's interesting. He happens to be perfectly content to be as dull as possible so long as it goes hand in hand with happiness.

Screw what anyone else thinks about the two of them: he's never given much care for what anybody else might think about any of the things he does. There are really only a few people whose opinions matter to him. One is doing whatever it is she's doing tonight (and he hopes Julia is happy and she knows she's always welcome over here) and the other is already here.

They could join the festivities at Lux, and they just might. Then again, they might just stay right here and hide out together. It wouldn't be the first time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, alright. If he insists. Chuckling, he leans over. For a moment, he just hovers with a smile on his face. Then he finally dips down and claims those lips with his own.

Strawberry. He has to say that he likes this flavor.

Especially coming from Gren's mouth.

When Lestat leans over, he wraps his arms around him to pull him close and hold him tight. He returns the kiss as eagerly as it's given: strawberry infuses it and the night's almost a little bit of sensory overload or could be if it wasn't so enjoyable.

He could really stay like this all night; his hands smooth over Lestat's back through the silk of the shirt.

"Look at where we ended up. I'm not so sure what to do about that."

There's an unmistakable twinkle in his eye that really says he knows exactly what to do about this little predicament. But if Lestat wants surprises, it would be silly to give everything away all at once.

One golden brow rises at that.

The look in Gren's eyes tells him the truth. But, without hint as to what is planned. He's naturally very curious and this awakened that. He wants to know what is planned here.

Only, he asked for surprises. That means there won't be an answer right now to his curiosity. He's supposed to be wondering and anticipating.

"Mm. I don't believe you."

"You're right. I thought we could go outside and have a snowball fight."

No; that involves way too much moving. As if he has to demonstrate he's a liar, his hands don't lighten their grip on their target at all. "But that sounds cold, and I'd rather be warm." This arrangement's nice and cozy as far as that request goes. "Anyway, that sounds like way too much effort. Really, I thought I'd refill the champagne, have another glass, and keep feeding you truffles while we listen to music and fool around."

Maybe that's not so surprising, but it is part of the plan.

"Or I could play a few songs for you myself. Or we could watch the tape from the music festival, or listen to that song we did together."

Those are far from the only options. "Or we could take the dogs for a walk, or I could impose on you for a flight over the City in the snow, or I could undress you with more than just my eyes."

Some of those things are even better than others.

"Or I can tell you what I'd really like to do."

(It's such fun to keep Lestat in suspense.)

All those options and he knows none of them are the real one. This is Gren teasing him further. Keeping him on the edge of his seat. And driving him mad with curiosity. He hates that. He loves that.

And damn it all, he wants to know what Gren has planned.

But, he just smiles oh so seductively and kisses once then twice then pauses before the third. "I will choose the last option. What do you really want to do?"

Now Gren gets that third kiss.

From this vantage point, he sees the most beautiful man in the world. Any world: that blond hair (and he's reminded of a poem he read once about a woman with yellow hair so gorgeous that everyone loved her for that more than anything) and those color-changing eyes, the perfect skin, the smile playing at those lips. All of it makes him smile, but what makes him smile inside is the intimate knowledge he has of what Lestat's really like. There are labels and then there's the reality, and experience has taught him that the reality is so much more beautiful and vibrant than he could ever have imagined had he just let the labels take over. His partner has such a big heart, and that touches everything he does... at least for and between the two of them.

It's indulgent and it spoils him shamelessly and he wouldn't trade it for the world. And with that in mind, he looks up into those gray-blue eyes with its flashes of violet and smiles quietly.

"How long has it been since anyone gave you a really nice back rub?"

It has to be a long, long time; Lestat said he hasn't been touched in so very many human ways in centuries. Tonight's the perfect night to remedy that situation.

The question is the very last one he expects. That shows on his face as the smile fades away to a thoughtful look. After all, he can't remember how long it has been. He would have still been a mortal. So, before he was changed. Even then no memory comes to mind.

Tilting his head to the side, he frowns slightly as he searches again. Still nothing.

Slowly he smiles and shakes his head.

"It would have been many years ago. Because, I do not recall any memories of it. That can only mean that if ever I was given one, it was before I was changed."

The smile remains even after that little confession.

That's pretty much what he thought the answer would be. How is it that pleasures of the flesh seem to elude all vampires of Lestat's world? When they're changed, do they forget about all mortal indulgences? Not being a vampire himself he doesn't know, but how sad would that be? Especially with enhanced senses: every touch to every muscle should be fantastic.

There's only one thing to find out.

"Do you want one?" No one's ever complained about a back rub he's given, but he won't make assumptions. Lestat's allowed to say no and there won't be any hard feelings... so to speak. Maybe it's the champagne, but he doesn't usually think in puns like that and it makes him smile.

"Yes."

He's curious now. He wants to know how a back rub would feel. Gren's hands on him. Already he's looking forward to this. He's been spoiled a great deal already but that doesn't mean he'll say no to getting more.

"I do want one." He's seen lovers giving them to each other in the past. Those times where always an outside view. The saying 'on the outside looking in' applies well to those days. Not any more. Gren makes sure of that.

"Okay, then. Come on into the other room with me and I will."

That's where the lotions are, anyway, or at least they're close by in the bathroom. "I figure you deserve to be pampered as much as anyone." After all, Lestat does so much for so many people whether they know it or not. There's something about his innate goodness that can't be hidden, despite all the external things that are so much easier to point out. Sure, Lestat's a vampire. They're classically viewed as bad: immoral, uncaring, selfish, destructive. Sure, he feeds. Sure, he's vain. Sure, he's reckless and likes to tempt fate and sure, others think he's crazy, that he does things on purpose just to be contrary. And sometimes he does, but more often than not he's just curious. He marches to his own beat, Lestat does, and to understand him even a little is a great, great gift.

He's so honored to have been chosen for that task.

That requires getting off Gren. For a moment he pouts only to replace it with a smile again. Getting on his feet, he leads the way to the other room. He already knows which one that is.

When they get there, he decides that he wants another kiss first. Pulling his taller lover into his arms, he seals their lips together for a heated and passionate kiss. Once he's done, he pulls back with a little smirk tugging at his lips. Oh yes. He'll never get tired of kissing this beautiful man before him.

"I like it when you pamper me."

Well, one more kiss.

"No. I love it.

That happens to be a very good thing: Lestat's kiss leaves him wanting more and he knows that was the intention, but he can be as patient as his lover is impatient. He knows how to wait. Smoothing his fingers over that tiny smug grin, he wastes no time taking the shirt off Lestat's body and setting it aside.

"Lie down on the bed. On your stomach." It only takes a moment's disappearance into the bathroom before he returns with a bottle of lotion; he pours a measure into his hand an takes a seat next to Lestat. First things first.

"Are you comfortable lying like this?"

He wouldn't be, but that's his own deal and nothing at all to do with back rubs, beds, or kindness. Anyway, he'd rather not be thinking about that at all.

From his position on the bed, he smiles over his shoulder. Is he comfortable... "One of these nights I will show you the creative positions I can get into and still be comfortable." This is by far the most natural of those positions.

He has a feeling that he knows where the question is coming from. Instead of pointing that out, he lets it go. Gren seems to prefer it that way. And he can work with that. Quickly easily actually.

Flashing another smile, he rests his head on the pillow.

"Anyways, you don't have to worry. I am comfortable."

He'd like to see some of those creative positions. Some day, but not right now. Now it's time to be a little indulgent with his boyfriend's body; he's no expert at this but he remembers what he used to like when he let people touch him this way and really, he's got good hands.

He's a musician. Of course he does.

Rubbing the lotion into his palm, he smooths it out over Lestat's back. The muscles are so defined, so beautiful, and he gets a very satisfied and smug moment of this man is mine. He's more possessive than a lot of people and he's always been that way and he can't change it if he wants to. Fortunately, he doesn't.

His hands run over the muscles in a slow, timeless, unhurried sort of way. Exploring here, exploring there, as the lotion (it's got a nice smell to it, something rich and luscious called plumeria, which he assumes is an Earth-based scent) sinks slowly into ageless flesh.

All in all, he thinks this was a pretty good idea.

"How's that feel so far?"

Plumeria. That's what the scent of the lotion is. He loves the scent of that flower. The smile on his face grows as the hands finally touch his skin. What a brilliant idea this is.

"It feels like you shouldn't stop yet. I'm enjoying myself too much."

Gren is enjoying himself and Lestat's body as well. He doesn't even have to turn his head to see that. It's so very obvious. And, as if he wasn't already, he relaxes. Eyes close and all he does is smile.

What is that phrase he heard once?

Ah yes.

He could get used to this.

Good. That makes him so happy. Lestat ought to have this kind of luxury on a regular basis and if it's up to him -- and now that they're living together, it is -- he'll have it. This may be pathetically human and sometimes he still wonders how much patience Lestat will have for him and his little flights of fancy over time, but it's still fun. Any relationship has to be filled with things that both partners like.

So why not? It's enjoyable, even for someone who's lived 232 years.

Inexpertly, his hands move over that back, rubbing softly. He doesn't know what he's doing in any trained sort of way, but he has a little bit of an innate ability to touch well. He lost it for a time, he knows, between basic training and here. But it's coming back, slowly, under Lestat's kind ministrations. The least he can do is share it again.

"You just say when you've had enough. Otherwise, I'll keep going." Every now and then he cheats by leaning forward to steal a kiss.

He can't help it.

Laughing suddenly, his face brightens. "You may be stuck where you are for a time then. I most certainly haven't had enough yet." Besides that, he's come to love being touched. And Gren does it so well.

His eyes open so he can look over his shoulder again. "I want you to touch me whether it be for a back rub or just to do so. I want it."

Smiling he closes his eyes again. Wait, there is one more thing he should add. "I also love it when you kiss me, angel. You spoil me completely." And he doesn't mind one bit. If anything, he encourages it.

It would be a foolish thing to not encourage something that feels this good. And if it is wrong that that is the case, then he wants it even more.

"If you want it, then you'll have it."

This could lead to all sorts of trouble, planned or unplanned. Actually, he's got no ulterior motive with this and just thought it would be a nice change of pace. Not all pleasures of the flesh are sexual in nature; some are simply pleasing in more innocent ways and this is one of them.

Everyone needs touch. Every human, every animal, every creature. Alive or dead or undead, mortal or immortal. It's what binds them together and forms communities. For example, he can't play his saxophone without touching it; contact is what makes the sounds come out of the horn. It's the same with Lestat. He can't love him without touching him. And touch is not reserved for lovers. Only a special type of touch gets earmarked for that.

How did he do without it for so long on Callisto? He had to deny himself that intimacy, that easy reaching of a hand to a shoulder. In that world without women every gesture took on a different significance.

Maybe this is what he died for. A little bit every day, all on the inside. He might have been going through the motions of living while he was there, but he wasn't, not really. He was only surviving. And now that he's got it back, he just can't live without it.

His hands are happy to keep moving, to keep touching. Even if any minute now he's going to wrap himself around Lestat and just hold him for a very, very long time.

Strange how vampires are such seductive creatures and yet avoid many of the pleasures humans enjoy. Well, he's been shown how much he loves them leaving him extremely hesitant to abandon them. Gren introduced him to them once more. They're so simple and yet he hungers for them. He doesn't care what any of his kind may or may not think of that.

Smelling the lotion again, he absorbs the scent completely. Plumeria. He's read about it before. It's history and location. Slowly he lets his eyes partially open. Perhaps he should share that with Gren.

"Plumeria. I like this scent. It's flower common in Hawaii. And, it has a history." That part had always amused him.

One of these days he would have to see if he could locate that book again. It had been rather interesting. It wouldn't hurt to see it once more. Besides, Gren might enjoy reading it as well. It would be well worth the purchase. Time to reveal what about it's history was amusing though.

"Some say that it is associated with the Pontianak. The Malay vampire."

"Really?" He had no idea. "I just liked the way it smells. That's why I picked it." There are some greenhouses on Mars, not too far from Mars Colony, and when he was really little his mom used to take him there. He has no memory whatsoever of what kinds of flowers were in there but he remembers how gorgeous and rich the floral scents were.

"You want to tell me about the Pontianak? I've never heard of them."

He's also never been to Hawaii and his knowledge of Earth geography is sketchy at best, but he's got an idea that it's somewhere warm, especially if plumeria flowers grow there. And all the time, his hands keep moving. It's what Lestat wants, after all.

A Pontianak is actually a rather gruesome creature. So, he decides not to go into details. Perhaps later. Perhaps not. Right now is not the right mood for it.

"They are women who died in childbirth became one of the undead. Their new life is all about terrorizing villagers and seeking revenge upon men. Pontianaks are vicious creatures. But, they are only a myth." The last part he says as if he were actually waving it aside. In a way, he is.

Vampire in his world care so little about vampire myths. They provide such a terrible image of the vampire race.

"It may have been some mass murderer on the islands who thought that was a clever way to inspire fear. That is a common thing among criminals like them."

Nothing earth-shattering then, and nothing he really needs to know about. That's okay; the question was prompted out of pure curiosity. Besides, he's a little preoccupied at the moment and that makes him a lot happier than hearing about some... what did Lestat say? Malay legend. As far as he knows that's not part of his heritage and not part of his lover's, so it's irrelevant at the moment. And also (as far as he knows) he's never gotten any women pregnant and certainly none of the women he used to be with died in childbirth, so he's safe as far as that goes too.

Now, there's no worry of that. To begin with, he's dead. Next, he's in a same-sex relationship. Third... well, there isn't really a third. Those two things alone pretty much take care of any of that kind of worry, if there ever was one.

His hands find broad shoulders and work lotion in there. He's almost ready for more champagne and a glance at the clock on the bedside table reads 11:30. Idly: "Half an hour till the new year."

Curious, he looks over at the clock. He really only keeps it because he likes the artwork of it. Otherwise, it means very little to him. Time means nothing in his life. It has been that way since he became a vampire. He doesn't mind that, of course. Just like he doesn't mind that years pass without him ever paying attention to it.

"And when the new year comes, you'll still be mine, angel. And time will still mean nothing to us other than a count of how long we have been together." And, he will have to remember these back rubs. He wants to try giving one himself at some point. Gren is sure to like that. However, he won't mention that desire.

Some things are best left as surprises.

Because it's a great opportunity, he leans over to kiss Lestat when he turns to look at the clock. When he was young -- when he was alive -- he'd measure things on New Year's Eve between songs. Last song played for the old year. Last person spoken to. Last hug, last kiss, last phone call. First song played in the new year, first person spoken to, first kiss, and so on. Even though it's really no more eventful than the clock striking midnight any other night, society makes it significant. Society says people celebrate the changing of the guard, or the month, of the year; he's always played along with that. Tonight he does something different.

Reaching forward, he turns the clock away from them. Lestat's right: time doesn't need to mean anything to them. Not tonight, although it does come in handy for things like getting to work when he's expected there, things like that.

"The only thing it's time for, man I love, is more champagne. I'll go get it." He can't move as quickly as his partner, who goes and returns in the blink of an eye, but his speed works for him. "And if I counted right, there are still three more truffles to taste, and we have until the sun rises to be decadent together." He can turn the back rub into a full-body rub, or it might evolve into a bath, or Lestat might want to take his turn directing the night's action. Just so long as they're together, it's all good. He ruffles those thick blond curls as he stands.

Rolling over, he watches Gren stand. The ruffling of his hair makes him laugh softly as curls fall back into place. Who wouldn't want the hair of a vampire? He rests one elbow as he toys with the ring on his hand. Wearing it had been on impulse. Though, he'd spent some time deciding which ring to wear once the impulse decision was made to wear a ring. That had been hours ago.

Once Gren leaves the room, he is up and heading towards his closet. He wants to see something.

Recently, without telling anyone, he's been taking dirty clothes that belong to Gren and placing them on the floor of his closet. To get Katan used to the scent. He's not sure if it will actually work but he had wanted to try anyways. Opening the door, he steps in and smiles at the cat.

In soft words, he calls to him until the cat is safely in his arms. That done, he heads to the door to wait just to the side for his lover to return. The entire time he waits, he continues to tell Katan about Gren. How he is kind and how he's the man who has been speaking to him and feeding him. And how Gren will not hate him and wish him harm like other words.

If his assumptions are right, and if the purring indicates anything, Katan's first real introduction with Gren should be a good one.

That alone brings a smile to his face as he makes sure he's out of sight for when his lover comes back into the room.

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