SillySpec: Le Grand Masquerade
April Mist
All the usual disclaimers apply- This is a work of non profit amateur
speculative fiction. It is not meant to infringe upon the rights of Anne Rice,
Random House, Knoph, anyone or anything, etc, etc… It was written solely for
amusement, and as a "speculation among friends".
Rated PG
Sillyspec: Le Grand Masquerade
By Aprilmist (apri...@hotmail.com)
© January 2000
"What do you think of it?"
Jesse spread the voluminous black satin and lace gown across the bed.
Pandora stopped fanning herself with the ostrich and peacock-plume fan and
glanced apathetically at the red-haired vampire. She had artfully arranged
herself on the chaise in her suite, where she presided over the gathered ladies
of the coven.
"It's very nice, darling Jessica, but it doesn't expose much of a décolletage."
She lifted an eyebrow.
"It's a nice neckline, Pandora. I'm supposed to be Jennie Churchill, not Madame
Pompadour." Jesse lifted the dress and held it up to her body.
"If she had more to show, Pandora, I'm sure Jess would let it all hang out."
Gabrielle tossed back her head and laughed.
"Very funny," Jesse snapped. "I suppose I should have had implants before I was
brought over."
Gabrielle rose from the window seat and pressed a kiss to Jesse's cheek.
"I'm not complaining. I love you the way you are."
"Why don't you wear the gown?" Pandora asked Gabrielle.
"You wouldn't catch me in a dress," Gabrielle folded her arms, "or the corset
that goes under it."
"I don't mind the corset." Jesse replied.
"They're like prisons." Gabrielle shuddered.
"I rather like them," Pandora lay the feathered fan on the chaise and
stretched. "They embrace your body like an artful lover."
"Oh, Bullshit!" Gabby tossed her hands in the air. "They were hot and
uncomfortable, and displaced your innards. They were created to keep women
enslaved."
"I never minded being enslaved to the right man…" Pandora gave her a Mona Lisa
smile.
"Will you two stop it?" Jesse interrupted them. " I think it is so charming of
Santino to invite the entire coven for a grand masked ball."
Pandora smiled. "And we're all here. Together, just like on dear little Night
Island."
"Gabs, I haven't seen your costume," Jesse asked.
"I'm going as a cavalier. I had to salvage things when you changed your mind."
Gabrielle returned to the window seat and lounged.
"Salvage?" Pandora returned to her chaise. "How so?"
"We were going as Louis and Lestat, but Jesse lost her nerve when The Brat
laughed at her." Gabrielle clicked her tongue. "You shouldn't have told him."
"He read my mind," Jesse grumbled.
Pandora frowned. "You were going as him?"
"No… Louis." Jesse replied. "Gabs was going as The Brat. She's got the hair. I
was going to wear a black wig."
"But, Darling… Gabrielle's posterior is far too large to belong to Le Brat,"
Pandora lifted an eyebrow, "and Jessica's nose could never pass for Louis's. "
"We weren't going for realism." Gabrielle snorted. "What are you going as Pan
darling? Are you and Marius going as a Unicorn? Or perhaps Pegasus?"
Jesse nearly choked as Pandora's eyes opened very wide and then narrowed.
"I don't QUITE catch your drift, Gabrielle darling?"
Jesse fell into a chair giggling. "She means… she wonders if you both will
occupy the same costume, and who will be the back end?"
Pandora rose to her feet.
"I am going to portray Cleopatra and Marius will be Marc Anthony," she replied,
frostily and stalked from the room.
Gabrielle glared after her. "I wonder who will play the… ?"
Jesse wiped the crimson tears from her face. "Don't say it, Gabs. I'll giggle
myself silly when I see her at the party."
"Asp?" Gabrielle grinned.
"I beg your pardon?" A quiet male voice asked.
Jesse leapt to her feet.
"Oh Louis, we were just talking about Pandora's costume… " She gave the
raven-haired vampire a hug. "Come in and talk to us. What's your costume going
to be?"
"I - I'm not going." He replied softly.
"You're not?" Jesse took his hands in hers. "Why ever not?"
"It's rather complicated." He shrugged.
"What's The Brat done now?" Gabrielle shook her head.
"I'd rather not go into it…" Louis glanced at the floor.
"Did you two have a squabble? You can tell us…" Jesse smiled gently.
"I did not particularly like the costume he selected."
"HE selected?" Gabrielle lifted an eyebrow.
"What was it?" Jesse asked
"Harlequin." Louis shuddered. "I flatly refuse to wear tights."
"I think he'd look cute." Gabrielle muttered.
"Oh no I wouldn't!" Louis grumbled. "That's exactly the response I didn't
want!"
"So you are just going to sit in your room and sulk instead of going to this
grand masquerade?" Gabrielle asked him.
"I wouldn't say 'sulk', but I'm not going. There's not one way that I will
stuff myself into that outfit." Louis pushed a wayward lock of hair out of his
eyes.
"Where's the costume? Perhaps someone else could wear it." Gabrielle was on her
feet and out the door.
Louis sank into a chair.
"Would you go to the party if I could find another costume for you?" Jesse sat
on the arm of his chair.
"I would wear anything… ANYTHING at ALL rather than that ridiculous Harlequin
outfit." Louis leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.
"Anything? Really?" Jesse smiled.
"Yes, anything. There is nothing in this world could be as embarrassing as
wearing that one particular costume. You have my word on that." Louis studied
her face. "What do you have in mind?"
Jesse leaned over him and kissed him on the nose.
"Something that could get us both in a lot of trouble!" She giggled.
Lestat took the lion's head mask from his face and shook out his hair. The
Renaissance courtier's costume was a stroke of genius. He looked perfectly
marvelous. Who cared if everyone knew him by the golden mask? It was all good
fun. Good fun that Louis refused to join.
Before the mirrored wall, he paced. Every now and then Lestat gave himself a
glance of approval and self- admiration. He liked the way the short cape
fluttered about him when he turned, and the gold embroidery encrusted the black
velvet tunic complimented his fair hair. At his side, a rapier hung in its
scabbard. The emeralds in the jeweled hilt were the exact same shade as his
Louis's eyes.
He hadn't seen Louis since they had risen at sunset. Louis was curled on his
side, seemingly in deep slumber. Lestat knew Louis would not be speaking to him
after their disagreement on the costume. Now, Louis was off somewhere by
himself, sulking.
Lestat struck an imperious pose.
"If the little twit wants to sulk all night, let him." Lestat snarled. "He's
missing me at my best. I haven't looked so good since… " He pondered the
statement. "Hm… since at least last Thursday night. I looked damned good in
those leather jeans…"
Lestat was so caught up in his own appearance, that he didn't see Marius walk
up to him.
"Good evening, Lestat. I was sure I'd find Louis at your side. I haven't seen
him."
Lestat turned to see Marius. He glanced up and down at the elder vampire's
costume.
"'Evening, Marius. Nice knees." Lestat replied.
"It was Pandora's idea that I should wear a toga." Maruis answered. "We're Marc
Anthony tonight."
Lestat arched an eyebrow.
"What? Pan's in there with you? A bit intimate, don't you think?"
Maruis ignored the remark.
"What is Louis's costume, or has he sworn you to secrecy?"
"Louis has sworn he will NOT wear a costume tonight. He's off somewhere
sulking"
"What did you want him to wear? Something that embarrassed him?" Marius
frowned. "
"I never embarrass my Louis," Lestat looked down his nose at the Roman.
Marius smiled.
"Not in your eyes, perhaps." He patted Lestat on the shoulder. "See you later."
Lestat mumbled an unintelligible word of parting and sat down on a marble
bench. Two figures approached. Santino was one of them, but Lestat wasn't
quiet sure of the identity of his escort. A willowy woman, clad in a black lace
gown, walked at Santino's side. Her one gloved hand rested lightly on his
forearm, the other held a fan fashioned of black ostrich plumes and peacock
feathers, matching the peacock feathers that festooned her upswept dark hair.
A black velvet mask concealed her identity from all.
"Ah, Lestat…" Santino bowed low.
"Santino…" Lestat returned the bow, adding a flourish with a wave of his hand.
"You're looking very grand tonight." Santino smiled, as he covered the woman's
hand with his.
"Thank you." Lestat gave him a pleasant smile. "Is there a theme to your
costume? Are you someone from history?"
Santino shifted his weight to one foot, and relaxed his posture.
"Tonight, I am Lord Randolph Churchill… and this is Lady Churchill"
Lestat bowed again.
"Enchanted!"
Lady Churchill nodded in a gracious manner.
"Louis isn't with you?" Santino asked Lestat.
"No, he decided…"
Before Lestat could finish the sentence, he saw the black and white flash of a
Harlequin dart across the end of the hall and out a door to the garden.
"There he goes!" Lestat laughed. "I'll talk to you later, Santino…." He blew a
kiss to the unknown woman. "…and you, too, my lady."
Lestat dashed down the hall, and nearly leaped out the door. He looked from
left to right, but didn't see the Harlequin.
"Damn! He's playing hide and seek!" Lestat ran down a path between neatly
trimmed hedges. Just as he was about to make a quick turn, he saw the flutter
of the voluminous Harlequin shirt at the other end of the garden. "Wait up!" He
called, and dashed through the rosebushes.
Harlequin ignored him.
Lestat caught up to the figure, as he walked towards the brightly illuminated
ballroom. He caught the Harlequin in his arms, and grasping the figure's
buttocks, planted a kiss on his mouth.
The response was immediate.
The Harlequin slapped Lestat across the face.
"What the HELL do you think you are doing?" Jesse shrieked at him. "Get you
hand off my ass, Buster!" She pulled off the skullcap that concealed her red
hair and glared at him.
"Jesse?" Lestat stood, his hand on his throbbing cheek. "You nearly broke my
jaw!"
"Serves you right!" She tossed her red curls. "A girl can't even take a walk in
the garden without the riffraff bothering her!" She placed her hands on her
hips. "I ought to tell my Maker! Maharet would make Vampire Marmalade out of
you for that!"
"Jesse…." Lestat whined, "I thought you were Louis! Honestly! He was supposed
to be Harlequin…"
"And what were you supposed to dressed as? His girlfriend?" She snapped.
"No… I'm a courtier…" Lestat grinned.
"No, you're a masher! Grabbing a nice girl's bottom like that!" Jesse growled.
"I should smack you silly!"
"I think you did…" Lestat replied. "I'm awfully sorry… but I really and truly
thought you were my Louis."
She eyed him suspiciously.
"Oh… all right." She said. "I guess it was an honest mistake… Just don't grab
my butt like that."
Jesse turned on her heel and flounced off toward the ballroom.
"Say hello to Louis, when you see him." She called. "Oh, and Lestat? Nice
codpiece!"
Lestat stalked back towards the house.
"How was I to know it wasn't my Louis?" He grumbled.
His face brightened as he saw an elegant cavalier wending his way through
garden path. Lestat scanned…. No, he couldn't read this vampire's mind! It must
be… LOUIS! Lestat ran after the figure as it walked into the ballroom.
Lestat took the cavalier by the shoulders and carefully turned him. Gently he
lifted the mask and peeked under it.
"Lestat, why are you playing with my mask?" Gabrielle asked patiently.
"Mother!" Lestat stepped back, surprised.
"You didn't answer my question." She said, folding her arms.
"I thought you were Louis…" Lestat muttered.
"I'm too short to be Louis." She replied.
"I know that… but from a distance it could have been him!"
"Are you having a problem?" Gabrielle asked.
"Yes, as a matter of fact I am! Jesse just slapped me, and I can't find Louis
anywhere…" he sighed. "I'm not having a good time at all without my Louis!"
"Why did Jesse slap you?"
"I thought she was Louis." He shook his head. "I want my LOUIS!!!"
"Perhaps you'll find him later." Gabrielle patted his back. "Take my hand, and
escort me to the ballroom. Maybe we'll see him there."
Together, they walked into ballroom.
It was a lovely sight. Hundreds of candles flicked in silver candelabras, the
light reflected by mirrors in gilded frames. The air was filled with the scent
of flowers, and the sound of waltzes. The entire coven was present. Marius and
Pandora dressed as Anthony and Cleopatra swept across the dance floor. Lestat
could see Jesse, her red hair luminous against the black and white costume. She
waved to them across the room. On one side of the room, Khaymann, as Teddy
Roosevelt, surveyed the crowd. Eric, dressed as some sort of admiral, nodded as
they passed by, and Mael, in full Highland dress, seized Gabrielle's hand and
waltzed away with her. Lestat wandered over to a sitting area.
Armand lounged across a sofa. His auburn curls spilled over his leather jacket.
Lestat smiled to him.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Lestat asked, bending over and tugging on one
wayward lock.
"I am myself," Armand replied. "I don't feel as if I need to be anyone else."
Lestat nodded in agreement. "Sounds reasonable… where's Daniel?"
"Behind you." Armand smiled. "He's inside that suit of armor."
Lestat turned around so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash.
"Danny!" He chuckled. "What are you doing in there"
"Watching everyone make idiots out of themselves." The vampire gave a slightly
muffled reply from inside the helmet.
"Well, if you're so intent on watching… have you seen Louis?"
"Haven't seen her… him." Daniel answered.
"Don't call my Louis a her!" Lestat cried. "He may sit like a girl sometimes,
but believe me, he's all man!"
"Glad to hear it." Daniel answered. He lifted the visor slightly so that Lestat
could see the gleaming violet eyes. "See ya around, Lestat."
Lestat grumbled and walked away. How could he enjoy himself without Louis? He
should have insisted Louis choose his own costume, Lestat decided. After all,
Louis had better taste than he did when it came to wardrobe.
"Good Evening Lestat."
Lestat looked up to see David standing in front of him with the elegant woman
in black lace.
"Oh, hello David." He muttered.
"Lestat.. I was wondering if you wanted to dance with Lady Churchill." David
smiled. "She's quite the belle of the ball."
Lestat shook his head.
"No thank you." He said softly. "I'm not really in the mood to dance, no matter
how charming and beautiful the lady is. There is only one dance partner in my
life, and he didn't come to the party." He slowly walked away.
Lestat made his way back to his room. He didn't bother to light the lamp or
candle, but pulled off his costume and tossed it in the corner in a black and
gold heap. Lestat stretched out on the bed and closed his eyes. He deserved
Louis's anger. He should not have tried to force him to do something Louis did
not wish to do.
As he was considering the ways to beg forgiveness, Lestat heard the door open.
A few seconds later, he felt the mattress dip as someone sat next to him on the
bed.
"You're back early," Louis said softly.
"I didn't have a very good time at the party." Lestat sighed and rolled on his
side, facing the wall.
"Why ever not?" Louis asked. "You love parties."
"Not when you aren't there." Lestat mumbled, still curled up in his misery.
"Can you ever forgive me?"
"For what? Being yourself?"
"Pushing you around," Lestat muttered into the pillow. "And because I was such
an idiot, you missed a party."
"Oh…." Louis tickled the back of Lestat's neck with a black ostrich plume.
"There's always next time."
Lestat turned around to see Lady Churchill sitting on the edge of his bed. Lady
Churchill wearing a big smile, and with green eyes sparkling mirthfully to him.
"We could have that waltz, now, " Louis said, with a wink.
"Mentally or physically, I wanna be in New Orleans."
(Red Hot Chilli Peppers)
DolphinXe
Dolphin
_______________________________________
~What goes around usually gets dizzy and falls over.
~If reality wants to get in touch, it knows where I am.
:P
Utena Code(1.0)U:4[5] Ut++>Mi+:pBR Ak-> X:[*]:a39++M:f"Rinbu -Revolution"
____________
aeh27
April Mist <apri...@aol.comspazspam> wrote in message
news:20000125173831...@ng-fi1.aol.com...
>
> All the usual disclaimers apply- This is a work of non profit amateur
> speculative fiction. It is not meant to infringe upon the rights of Anne
Rice,
> Random House, Knoph, anyone or anything, etc, etc. It was written solely
> "I never minded being enslaved to the right man." Pandora gave her a Mona
Lisa
> smile.
>
> "Will you two stop it?" Jesse interrupted them. " I think it is so
charming of
> Santino to invite the entire coven for a grand masked ball."
>
> Pandora smiled. "And we're all here. Together, just like on dear little
Night
> Island."
>
> "Gabs, I haven't seen your costume," Jesse asked.
>
> "I'm going as a cavalier. I had to salvage things when you changed your
mind."
> Gabrielle returned to the window seat and lounged.
>
> "Salvage?" Pandora returned to her chaise. "How so?"
>
> "We were going as Louis and Lestat, but Jesse lost her nerve when The Brat
> laughed at her." Gabrielle clicked her tongue. "You shouldn't have told
him."
>
> "He read my mind," Jesse grumbled.
>
> Pandora frowned. "You were going as him?"
>
> "No. Louis." Jesse replied. "Gabs was going as The Brat. She's got the
hair. I
> was going to wear a black wig."
>
> "But, Darling. Gabrielle's posterior is far too large to belong to Le
Brat,"
> Pandora lifted an eyebrow, "and Jessica's nose could never pass for
Louis's. "
>
> "We weren't going for realism." Gabrielle snorted. "What are you going as
Pan
> darling? Are you and Marius going as a Unicorn? Or perhaps Pegasus?"
>
> Jesse nearly choked as Pandora's eyes opened very wide and then narrowed.
>
> "I don't QUITE catch your drift, Gabrielle darling?"
>
> Jesse fell into a chair giggling. "She means. she wonders if you both
will
> occupy the same costume, and who will be the back end?"
>
> Pandora rose to her feet.
>
> "I am going to portray Cleopatra and Marius will be Marc Anthony," she
replied,
> frostily and stalked from the room.
>
> Gabrielle glared after her. "I wonder who will play the. ?"
>
> Jesse wiped the crimson tears from her face. "Don't say it, Gabs. I'll
giggle
> myself silly when I see her at the party."
>
> "Asp?" Gabrielle grinned.
>
> "I beg your pardon?" A quiet male voice asked.
>
> Jesse leapt to her feet.
>
> "Oh Louis, we were just talking about Pandora's costume. " She gave the
> raven-haired vampire a hug. "Come in and talk to us. What's your costume
going
> to be?"
>
> "I - I'm not going." He replied softly.
>
> "You're not?" Jesse took his hands in hers. "Why ever not?"
>
> "It's rather complicated." He shrugged.
>
> "What's The Brat done now?" Gabrielle shook her head.
>
> "I'd rather not go into it." Louis glanced at the floor.
>
> "Did you two have a squabble? You can tell us." Jesse smiled gently.
>
> "I did not particularly like the costume he selected."
>
> "HE selected?" Gabrielle lifted an eyebrow.
>
> "What was it?" Jesse asked
>
> "Harlequin." Louis shuddered. "I flatly refuse to wear tights."
>
> "I think he'd look cute." Gabrielle muttered.
>
> "Oh no I wouldn't!" Louis grumbled. "That's exactly the response I didn't
> want!"
>
> "So you are just going to sit in your room and sulk instead of going to
this
> grand masquerade?" Gabrielle asked him.
>
> "I wouldn't say 'sulk', but I'm not going. There's not one way that I will
> stuff myself into that outfit." Louis pushed a wayward lock of hair out of
his
> eyes.
>
> "Where's the costume? Perhaps someone else could wear it." Gabrielle was
on her
> feet and out the door.
>
> Louis sank into a chair.
>
> "Would you go to the party if I could find another costume for you?" Jesse
sat
> on the arm of his chair.
>
> "I would wear anything. ANYTHING at ALL rather than that ridiculous
> missing me at my best. I haven't looked so good since. " He pondered the
> statement. "Hm. since at least last Thursday night. I looked damned good
in
> those leather jeans."
> "Ah, Lestat." Santino bowed low.
>
> "Santino." Lestat returned the bow, adding a flourish with a wave of his
hand.
>
> "You're looking very grand tonight." Santino smiled, as he covered the
woman's
> hand with his.
>
> "Thank you." Lestat gave him a pleasant smile. "Is there a theme to your
> costume? Are you someone from history?"
>
> Santino shifted his weight to one foot, and relaxed his posture.
> "Tonight, I am Lord Randolph Churchill. and this is Lady Churchill"
>
> Lestat bowed again.
> "Enchanted!"
>
> Lady Churchill nodded in a gracious manner.
>
> "Louis isn't with you?" Santino asked Lestat.
>
> "No, he decided."
> Before Lestat could finish the sentence, he saw the black and white flash
of a
> Harlequin dart across the end of the hall and out a door to the garden.
> "There he goes!" Lestat laughed. "I'll talk to you later, Santino.." He
blew a
> kiss to the unknown woman. ".and you, too, my lady."
> "Jesse.." Lestat whined, "I thought you were Louis! Honestly! He was
supposed
> to be Harlequin."
>
> "And what were you supposed to dressed as? His girlfriend?" She snapped.
>
> "No. I'm a courtier." Lestat grinned.
>
> "No, you're a masher! Grabbing a nice girl's bottom like that!" Jesse
growled.
> "I should smack you silly!"
>
> "I think you did." Lestat replied. "I'm awfully sorry. but I really and
truly
> thought you were my Louis."
>
> She eyed him suspiciously.
> "Oh. all right." She said. "I guess it was an honest mistake. Just don't
grab
> my butt like that."
> Jesse turned on her heel and flounced off toward the ballroom.
> "Say hello to Louis, when you see him." She called. "Oh, and Lestat? Nice
> codpiece!"
>
> Lestat stalked back towards the house.
> "How was I to know it wasn't my Louis?" He grumbled.
>
> His face brightened as he saw an elegant cavalier wending his way through
> garden path. Lestat scanned.. No, he couldn't read this vampire's mind! It
must
> be. LOUIS! Lestat ran after the figure as it walked into the ballroom.
>
> Lestat took the cavalier by the shoulders and carefully turned him. Gently
he
> lifted the mask and peeked under it.
>
> "Lestat, why are you playing with my mask?" Gabrielle asked patiently.
>
> "Mother!" Lestat stepped back, surprised.
>
> "You didn't answer my question." She said, folding her arms.
>
> "I thought you were Louis." Lestat muttered.
>
> "I'm too short to be Louis." She replied.
>
> "I know that. but from a distance it could have been him!"
>
> "Are you having a problem?" Gabrielle asked.
>
> "Yes, as a matter of fact I am! Jesse just slapped me, and I can't find
Louis
> anywhere." he sighed. "I'm not having a good time at all without my
> Lestat nodded in agreement. "Sounds reasonable. where's Daniel?"
>
> "Behind you." Armand smiled. "He's inside that suit of armor."
>
> Lestat turned around so fast he nearly gave himself whiplash.
>
> "Danny!" He chuckled. "What are you doing in there"
>
> "Watching everyone make idiots out of themselves." The vampire gave a
slightly
> muffled reply from inside the helmet.
>
> "Well, if you're so intent on watching. have you seen Louis?"
>
> "Haven't seen her. him." Daniel answered.
> "Oh.." Louis tickled the back of Lestat's neck with a black ostrich plume.
Chrysanthemum
~Chrysanthemum~
"And chrysanthemums stood in the silver vase on the square grand - flowers
which, to Claudia, meant death." -Louis de Pointe du Lac, IwtV
"Such roses and chrysanthemums, how enormous they were." -Daniel Molloy, QotD