[ the nudge, the wink - it puts adam bit off-balance, though not necessarily in a bad way. he returns the grin, eyes following the man's back as he heads off to get the drinks. it's obvious that he's popular with the easy way he speaks to others, the confident body language he has as they follow in his wake. maybe he comes here often - he certainly seems to know the place well enough.
as adam waits for the man's return he picks his camera back up, focusing on the area around the bar now. it's a central, circular-shaped thing, with gorgeous young people flair bartending and picking up tips left and right. their dexterity is mesmerizing: adam could never be that good with his hands.
he's snapped a few half-decent shots by the time ned returns. letting his camera hang down around his neck, he reaches out to take the offered glass, not minding the moisture that immediately coats his fingers. the scent floats up into his nose and just one sip is enough to put him in a better mood, his body's sense memory kicking in. drinking is something he only really does socially, not because he wants to but because he has to split the cost most of the time - and most of those times happened when he was hanging around with scott and his bandmates, or sitting on the grass at a music festival. rare snippets of happiness dotted amidst his generally bleak life.
ned, the man says. a funny sounding name, especially compared to the dramatic sound of lestat. it makes adam grin. this guy is so normal - just a young, handsome man having a good time, without some scary vampiric aura or tragic past to contend with. the red light thankfully hides the blush that graces his cheeks when ned calls him cute, and that same feeling from before stirs in his stomach once again. excitement. ]
Well, I...
[ his eyes look out over the dancefloor and pause as a certain head of blond hair comes into view. he's half-hidden by other bodies, but there's no mistaking lestat, sprawled out with his sunglasses and looking every bit like the rock star he is.
adam's stomach lurches momentarily. but then he thinks about what lestat told him, about the way he'd so easily brushed the human off, and that's enough to make adam give this new person his full attention. ]
Just working, [ he replies, leaning in a bit closer - ostensibly so it's easier to talk, but also because he really likes whatever cologne ned is wearing. he lets his own eyes wander now, taking in the well-muscled arms hiding beneath his shirt, the difference in their heights, that wide smile. ]
I'm Adam. [ he raises his glass in cheers, his body relaxing as he settles into the conversation. ] Do you come here often? It seems like a lot of people know you.
[ ned lingers close, leaning his back against the railing within speaking proximity of the other man. his eyes don't stray from adam as he speaks, seemingly aware of how the other man takes him in and has his eyes roam in return.
a shrug at adam's question, smile not fading. ]
Nah, only when I'm really desperate. Then I chat up the cutest guy who isn't here looking to hook up.
[ a snicker at his own line. he sips at his beer before continuing, gesturing for a moment.]
They're old uni mates, come from across the pond to check out whatever bleak American hole I've dug myself into. Knobs, the lot of them.
[ he glances over to the table of people and waves cheerily, immediately earning boos and rude gestures in response. a few of the girls cackle behind their hands though, indicating it was all friendly ribbing.]
See? They're just envious that they don't get to buy you a drink.
[ his attention wafts back to adam, offering him a sheepish grin.]
Are you here often? I could stop by more often if you're here. Sorry - [ a laugh, wincing at himself.] I'm coming on a bit strong. It's been a while.
[ as he listens to ned speak, adam takes a few more sips of his beer and lets the atmosphere wash over him: the warmth of the other's body so close to his own, the pounding music in the background, the pleasant way ned's accent winds through his words. he's charismatic but in a plain sort of way, just a normal guy trying to flirt with someone he thinks is cute; it's refreshing, and adam feels himself relax further as they talk.
he laughs in unison with the group as they heckle the other man, before ducking his head as a fresh wave of butterflies makes its way through his body. getting attention like this is new and exciting, and he isn't quite sure what to do with himself.
even when ned stumbles a bit, it's so charming that adam can't fault him for it. when he looks up again he's grinning, clearly please, a sparkle in his eye. ]
Don't worry about it.
[ he swallows; then, summoning his courage, he reaches out to brush his fingers over ned's elbow - a gesture that, while simple, clearly communicates the fact that he likes the attention. ]
It's actually my first time here. [ he tilts his head towards the dancefloor but doesn't look away, not wanting to be reminded of lestat right now. a hint of mischief enters his expression and he adds playfully, ]
[ ned's eyebrows raise in response, grin gaining in confidence as he eyes adam again. taking in the playful lilt to his tone, the brush of fingers. ]
Yeah? Oh, you said that you were working, so - [ a shrug. he takes another big gulp of beer, leans a little closer. ]
I mean, shit - hooking up while you're on the clock is pretty hot, yeah? You've got plenty of time to take photos.
[ straightening up again, he glances back over to the table of young people, the others lingering at the bar. ]
The way some of my mates are eying you, I'd say they're pretty pissed at me for snagging your attention. You got the pick of the litter up here, and it's only your first time.
[ the red wash of neon makes his eyes look big and dark as he looks back to adam, gaze obviously set on the smaller man's mouth. then lower, at the lace only just obscuring creamy skin, the shadow of his nipples. ]
Hell, you could pick up all of us tonight if you wanted. Fuck your boss.
[ right - working. taking photos of pretty people doing pretty things. what meaning is there in that? suddenly adam feels like he wants to forget why he's here, why he's got a camera hanging from his neck, weighing him down. why should he care about any of that when he's got a handsome man standing in front of him, clearly interested? telling him that not only does he want adam but other people do too - to the point where they're jealous, even?
adam takes a long drink, gulping the beer down and feeling its cold heat wash over his insides. maybe he should be more like lestat. ignore the consequences, do what he wants. it's not as though trying to live a decent life has ever gotten him anywhere.
rise and shine, adam.
a visible shiver runs through him as those words ghost through his skull; thankfully, it happens at the same time ned's eyes wander over his body, so it seems less like a trauma response and more like a reaction to being ogled so obviously.
fuck your boss ned says and it makes adam laugh. if only he knew how true that was. ]
Let's go somewhere else,
[ he hears himself say, eyes wide and dark as he looks up at ned. ]
[ mimicking adam, ned tosses back his beer immediately in one, two large gulps. residual foam coats his lips and he licks them a tad nervously, sets his empty glass aside.]
Fuck, sure. Can I give you an escorted tour of the bathroom, Adam?
[ he offers adam an elbow, a tad sheepish but willing to commit to the corniness. once he's sure adam will follow, he'll lead the other man to the men's bathroom on the upper floor. his friends from the nearby table hoot and holler at the two of them as they pass, some with stares that linger longer than others.
from across the room, despite the hand of a tanned gentleman venturing a hand inside his shirt, sharp eyes watch the two depart from the balcony. further attempts to caress the blonde are blatantly ignored, even after straddling his lap to get his attention. all it earns is a snap of irritation for blocking his eye line before there's a flash of fangs and he seals his mouth onto the man's neck, earning a moan swallowed by both the music and lestat himself. it's a small mouthful, enough to wet his mouth and send his nerves tingling.
music pulsing and head spinning, the handsy patron does not seem to register being lifted and placed aside like he weighed nothing. likewise, no one in the VIP section seems to notice that lestat has slipped away until he's vanished into the cluster of gyrating bodies. absolutely not keeping a close eye on adam and his new friend eagerly leading to the bathroom.]
[ other people might notice ned's nervousness and be turned off by it, especially in comparison to the confidence he'd displayed upon first approach - but, to adam, it's nice. refreshing. being around someone with seemingly endless amounts of charisma and pride is tough; this is a real person, not a rock star. someone adam feels a human connection with.
so he chugs the rest of his beer, then sets his glass aside. the grin on his face reaches all the way to his eyes as he playfully takes ned's elbow, chuckling a little at how cute it is. ]
You're quite the gentleman, [ he remarks, looking up at the taller man. as they pass the group at the table Adam glances back over this shoulder at them and, sure enough, a few are staring at him. it brings a fresh flush to his face and he tries not to feel too excited by the attention, knowing most of it can be chalked up to his clothing. he's learned from lestat that showing a little skin is the perfect way to get eyes pointed in your direction.
but - that's enough thoughts about lestat. it doesn't take long to reach the bathroom; once they're there, it becomes pretty obvious that some other men have had a similar idea. soft moans and grunts echo from the farthest stall, and there's a small group gathered by the sinks eyeing each other up in between snorting lines of coke. adam does his best to focus on Ned but the truth is that he himself has started to get a little nervous - he doesn't exactly know what he should do next. his grip on the other's arm tightens as a result, communicating his feelings without words. ]
[ even under the desaturated blue neon of the bathroom lights, it's obvious what the other occupants are up to. from the farthest stall, a pair of knees can be seen as if in prayer at an altar, the hymn played being soft sighs and groans. a few men lingering at the urinals glance at the pair who enter, relaxing as they note the way ned is scanning for an empty stall. once again, some stares linger, trailing adam while ned tugs him to the side wall, impatient. there doesn't seem to be any stalls that lock available. ned compensates by crowding adam against the wall, amongst the numerous stickers and graffiti plastered there.
no time is wasted now that he has the smaller man where he can reach him. ned leans heavily against the tile, swooping down to press his mouth to adam's. his hands grasp at his chest over the lace, thumb purposefully stroking over the shadow of the nipple underneath. evidently he's very interested, his hips pressing against the others eliciting a groan that mirrors the others echoing in the bathroom.]
Give it a moment and I'll bend you over in the stall, yeah? [ ned's voice is gravelly now, just quiet enough for adam to hear.]
've got poppers in my back pocket just for eager little faggots like you. Guess it's my lucky day.
[ another few men enter the bathroom, one that ned glances up at and nods tightly to. there's another warm pressure against adam's waist now, attempting in vain to dig under the corset and many belts in order to find the bottom hem of the lace shirt. another whiff of cologne too, a hard body pressing in from the other side. one of ned's friends evidently, helping himself to a feel of adam's waist.
ned says something to him, muffled by the thrum of the music. a short laugh in response before a hand slips down to grasp at adam's ass, thick fingers feeling for the cleft of his cheeks and pressing in insistently.
then, a snap. the sound evokes especially dry twigs, a clean sharp break. it's audible over the music from this close, as is the feeble whimper of ned's companion. the pressure on adam's rear is immediately lifted, though the man slumps forward a little, doubling over and clutching his hand to his chest.
there's a sudden tension in the air prickling ned's skin into goosebumps that he notes far too late. despite his friend making a girly moan, he was not distracted away from pressing his tongue into the mouth of the pretty young thing he had secured. he tasted like summer, the light coating of beer still on his lips, and ned intended to compare the taste of him after having his fun. perhaps there would still be remnants of the same taste after, too.
distantly, he's aware of his body operating as if by an invisible puppeteer. it's not an unfamiliar sensation, but one his mind skips on like a scratch in a disk, revisiting a couple of times before the movements sink in. he's kissing adam, grasping for a feel of his sides, his chest, the side of his neck. feeling the other man swallow under his hands, the surge of excitement at the power held there. then he's reaching back into his pocket for the little vial tucked there. at some point he's broken off the kiss and has leant back to uncap the vial and snort from it, a potent whiff of pure chemical that makes his head blank out pleasantly and his muscles loosen.
there's the scent of ozone in the air beyond the chemicals, a tension like before lightning strikes. if ned focuses, he distantly recalls the scent lingering just before his friend had made the strangled sound. then, far too soon, another deep sniff. this whites out his vision for a heartbeat, has the man stagger on his feet. dazed, he begins to frown deeply at himself. his eyes focus and unfocus. his weight leans heavily against the tile wall, mind struggling to make sense of what was happening before his arm raises again. another deep snort and he slumps, though held taut before he can collapse.
there's tight pressure around his chest, strong arms keeping him upright. a brush of hair against his crisp shirt, then cold ice through his veins. ned gasps wetly, eyes fluttering and knees buckling as lestat drinks deep and quick. the colour drains from him, as does the little twitches of life. in a few seconds, the man is close to death with a new jagged gash in the side of his neck.
somehow all of this goes unnoticed by the other patrons of the bathroom. a stall empties of its occupants, allowing lestat to smoothly escort a swaying ned inside, shortly followed by his barely conscious friend.
when the stall door is closed and the blonde returns, there's a dark liquid discoloured by the neon lights coating his fingertips, dripping from his claws. this he licks from his fingers idly, eyes large and dark as he looks adam over. a moment of hesitation - a glance at the door. but he drifts back to adam, jaw clenched and the line of his body tight.]
Chèri. Tout va bien? [ tone soft, despite the blood around his mouth. then his eyes flatten, sharp and predatory.]
[ adam had assumed they'd be in a stall, so when ned chooses not to wait and instead pushes him up against the wall it sends a wave of anxiety through him. making out in front of others isn't exactly something he'd been planning on doing - not that he's particularly shy, just... it feels weird. despite the fact that he's a voyeur by trade, he doesn't particularly enjoy being watched, at least not when it's his first time with someone in a new environment.
still, he can't pretend he doesn't like how it feels when ned starts touching him. he groans into the kiss, eagerly parting his lips, his chest arching as the other man's thumbs find his pert nipples. the fabric feels good against his sensitive skin, much better than the worn-out cotton of his t-shirts, and when ned's hips press forward adam's move in response, grinding up against him.
ned speaks and adam nods, breathless - but then he hears that word. faggot. it makes him frown in confusion, eyebrows knitting together. he's about to say something when he sees ned acknowledge one of the men entering the bathroom, and before he can stop it there's suddenly an extra pair of hands touching him, an extra body pressed up against his in a hard line.
adam hadn't signed up for this sort of thing. panic builds in his chest as he begins to struggle against the two men, breath quickening as he feels them grasping and squeezing without permission. the laugh is cruel, wicked, and it makes adam shut his eyes tight, trying to come up with a way out now that he's realizing what's going to happen to him.
he hears the snap but doesn't know what it means; all he knows is that the fingers that were so insistently groping him are suddenly gone. he would turn to look but ned is kissing him again, deep and hungry. his hands are everywhere and adam is torn between wanting to enjoy it and knowing that this is wrong, that ned doesn't actually care about him at all, that he saw adam as just another guy he could take advantage of. what was it that he'd said? he'd come here looking for the cutest guy who didn't want to hook up? what a load of shit.
fear and hatred spike inside adam's bloodstream as he watches the taller man inhale the drugs, still not knowing how he can escape - the body behind him is heavy and strong, and he has no idea if ned will get violent once adam tries to tell him to stop.
but then ned does something strange. he inhales again, and again - too much, too many times. adam doesn't know a ton about how poppers work but he can read the confusion on ned's face, can tell that he isn't acting of his own volition. the tension in the air builds and builds, a storm on the horizon, a blue sky turned to terrible grey, and then -- ]
Lestat?
[ the name leaves adam's lips in a whisper. a prayer. his god, come to save him.
he watches without blinking as lestat drains the man, the colour disappearing quickly from his face. watches as the life fades from those eyes, as that strong body becomes feeble and pathetic. everything around their little tableau fades away; all adam can see is the vision before him, a beautiful demon descending upon the worst kind of person imaginable.
overhead, the lights flicker - or, maybe, that's just adam's imagination. it suddenly feels as though he can hear the electricity buzzing through their fluorescent tubes. the clink of metal on metal, the drip-drip-drip of water from a faucet. his vision narrows, darkening around the edges.
lestat disappears. it's only for a moment, but he's gone, and ned is gone, and so is the man who had tried to join him. everyone is gone and adam is alone in a bathroom with a chain around his ankle, a dead man's blood in front of him, a cassette tape and a video camera and a gun and a key and a
cheri.
lestat's voice. adam blinks; his eyes are dry. his entire body is shaking. he feels dizzy; in fact, he sinks to his knees, fingernails scraping at the wall, at the floor, at anything he can reach.
alone alone alone. dying dying dying. his shoulder aches and burns with the ghost of a wound that never fully healed. ]
I --
[ he tries to speak, but his throat squeezes the words into nothing before they can escape. overhead, the lights flicker, threatening darkness. ]
I need to - leave --
[ he can't. he's trapped. there's a chain on his ankle and he's killed an innocent man. he doesn't deserve to live. he failed his test.
[ death descends in a shroud over adam's mind. lestat doesn't need to skim the surface of his thoughts to see its effects; the way adam's hands begin to shake, his body locking up and drawing in protectively, the film of his eyes losing its sheen. that invasive terror prickling under his skin, cold iron and colder stone.
one stride closes the distance between them. he cannot help but note how dark the remaining blood is against the pale of adam's skin as he stoops to gather him, a stain along a wiry bicep where the vampire touches.]
You are here, mon lapin, I am here. Let me - come.
[ easily lestat lifts adam close to his chest and rises, a cherished bundle he holds delicately. now the other bathroom occupants begin to stare, some at the intimidating glare shot by the blonde man, others with creases of concern on their brow for the young man clearly having a bad trip. lestat levels a stare at each in turn, then spins on a heel and exits with adam in his arms.
outside, the music thuds relentlessly. dizzying, with the shifting lights and the crush of bodies. suddenly lestat is deeply annoyed with everything; the setting, the club goers, himself. hyper aware of how the oppressive atmosphere must contribute to the panicked state of adam, peeved at how many people stood between him and the venue exit. annoyed that he had let things develop this far, when clearly he could read the lust on the now dying ned's mind across the room.
another sharp tang of ozone in the air as his eyes flare, growing huge and dark in the neon. the room seems to stutter in time, music slowing to a halt, providing a reprieve from the endless thudding. bodies slow admist their twisting. sweat defies gravity and stops midway to the floor.
lestat's jaw is clenched tight, the muscles of his face visible, beads of blood sweat on his forehead as he strides forward. slips through the tangles of bodies, weaving as best he can with his arms full of adam. he won't be able to hold this for long, so he intends to be as quick as he can.]
[ adam's small body is shaking violently by the time lestat lifts it into his arms, completely overtaken by the panic running riot through his veins. adam can hear lestat speak but it sounds very far away, as though there's an ocean's worth of water between them.
mentally, adam is still there: back in that bathroom. not the one at the club, but the other one - huge and damp and terrifying. cold, cold. why is he so cold? there's so much blood. his eyes catch on lestat's hand where it curls around his arm and he lets out a terrified whimper; it's dark and crimson, even under the red lights that flood the space around them. whose blood is it? his? lestat's? the doctor, the man he killed?
if he had the strength, adam would push himself out of lestat's arms. he would run and run and run - not knowing where he was going, just needing to escape. to get as far away as possible from the fear that's drowning him alive. but right now he's little more than a rabbit caught in a trap, quivering as it awaits its fate.
the music around them is very very loud. there are voices, so many voices, pounding into adam's head. he presses his face as deep into lestat's chest as he possibly can, fingernails digging into any part of the blond's body they can reach. the voices tell him everything he has done wrong. they say that this is his own fault. they repeat that word: faggot. faggot. faggot. his father's voice is there too.
and then, suddenly - everything is silent.
it takes a long moment before adam is able to raise his head in order to see what's going on; when he does, he's certain that he must still be hallucinating. everything around them is frozen, the bodies and the lights and the sounds, gone impossibly still even as lestat still guides them through the space.
lestat.
adam looks up for the first time since he watched lestat's fangs descend into the neck of his assailant and is shocked by what he sees. lestat is clearly focusing as intensely as possible, the muscles of his jaw popping as he clenches his teeth, eyes huger and darker than adam has ever seen them. he is terrifying; he is beautiful. ]
Lestat...?
[ barely a whisper. adam's throat is too dry. but, somehow, he manages to raise a shaking hand upwards, brushing over the vampire's neck as light as a feather. ]
[ there are a lot of people at this club. lestat can feel each of them in turn, all struggling to push the wheel of time back into motion. it's a feat he can show off easily in a smaller bar with less space to control but this - this open space is a heavy strain. even with the fresh blood he had just consumed.
his strength is beginning to flag as they weave closer to the EXIT sign above a door to the back. the warmth ghosting over his neck catches his attention and he ignores it for a beat, attempting to manage his focus adequately. huge monstrous pupils slide down to acknowledge adam, unblinking and bloodshot.
lestat's voice is silky, effortless as he speaks into adam's mind - clear in the eerie silence of the frozen club. ]
Un instant. There is nothing for you to fear here.
[ even as he says this, the world begins to stutter and skip. a chaotic siren of movement and noise for a split second before freezing again. lestat winces, shakes his head as if to dislodge something. though covered by a wall of blonde waves, his ears begin to slowly bleed.
its only another ten seconds at most before he turns and shoulders the door to open it. the rush of night air is crisp in comparison to indoors, with a strong breeze that races around the two of them in the parking lot. behind them, the nightclub resumes its endless noise of people and pulsing bass as if nothing had occurred.
gingerly, the blonde takes a few steps towards the solid concrete wall and carefully lowers adam to the ground. with a grunt, he takes a seat beside him. his head hits the wall a little carelessly and he does not seem to mind, eyes fluttering closed and breathing deeply. ]
[ as with so many other things unique to lestat's vampiric nature, adam has no idea how this power works - and, therefore, he does not fully comprehend just how taxing it is to control the hands of time on such a large scale. he can tell, however, that lestat is obviously having a difficult time, and so he says nothing more, does nothing else.
lestat's voice sounds as calm and confident as it always does within his head, but there's no mistaking the way he shakes his head, the sudden blare of noise before it's forced back to silence. adam stares up at him for the rest of the walk towards the door and out into the parking lot; even when lestat sets him down he keeps staring, only blinking when the wind blows past his eyes.
lestat's hair blows, too, and now that they're not drowning in the red lights of the club adam can see just how bad he looks. his nails, fingers, forearms are covered in dark blood; he's visibly out of breath; when the wind ruffles through his hair, the trickles of blood along his ears and neck are impossible to miss.
adam remains silent, not moving. his shaking has subsided somewhat, and the voices in his head are gone. out here the air smells faintly of iron and sewage, completely different from the overpowering cologne and alcohol adam's nose has been stuffed with since he arrived, and though these new cents aren't exactly pleasant they help ground him. ]
Lestat...
[ apparently, that's all he's able to say. he doesn't even try to touch the other man, still too shaken up, but his eyes linger on the blond's body, his expression a strange mixture of fear, confusion, and relief. ]
[ the blonde bows his head, massaging at his temples. there's pain lacing through him, needle pinpricks reminding him that he still isn't quite at his strongest. at least with his eyes closed, the streetlights aren't too piercing. he can slow his breathing, half listening for adam's pulse beside him. a soothing sound, even as it is too rabbit quick for his liking.
the fury that he himself had felt is taking its toll on him, adrenaline fading away and leaving nothing to fill the gap. alarming, just how quickly the fog of rage nearly took away his control entirely there. indulged just a little by tearing out one man's throat with his fingers and a chunk of flesh from ned's abdomen.
this just clarified what he had already known; whatever this companionship was with adam, it was enough to illicit real fear and real anger from the vampire. another vulnerability, another piece of his heart to be yanked around.
hair draped over his face, he pries open an eye to peek over at adam. the look on his face is enough to indicate that the ghosts had at least begun to fade from his mind, concerned now with a new unknown.
he cannot even offer adam a weak smile, but tries to make his voice soft.]
Let me catch my breath. [ a wince, and he shuts his eyes again.]
I will get us home. A shame. You look very elegant.
[ with his own fear subsiding, adam can finally focus on lestat properly. it's strange to see him struggle at all, and right now he genuinely looks like he can barely speak. it triggers some part of adam that he hasn't felt in a long time, a part that pushes him to shift his body closer, to reach out and rest a hand against lestat's shoulder tentatively.
now that his head is a bit clearer adam can also think about what's just happened. while some parts are foggy - what was real, what did he hallucinate? - he knows one thing for certain: lestat killed that man. drained him and shoved him in a bathroom stall to be found later by some other partygoer, or perhaps a janitor, someone who will undoubtedly be forever scarred by the atrocity they have just borne witness to.
lestat killed him because of adam. and adam knows he should feel bad, feel awful, for having ned's blood on his hands - but he does not. he distinctly remembers the sense of betrayal and terror that lit up his veins right before lestat appeared and the darkest part of his soul relishes what has happened: the devil came to save him.
lestat speaks, too quiet; he is a shadow of his usual self. the french that catches on the wind is almost blown away before adam can hear it but he hears the syllables just in time. he does not know what they mean, but he can guess. ]
Why are you sorry?
[ his voice is raw, cracked. tears prickle at the corners of his eyes but he ignores them. his fingers curl into the pink fabric of lestat's shirt, speckled with the blood of dead men. ]
You didn't do anything --
[ he did everything. his appearance alone is enough to make the reality of their relationship quite plain: it is not some temporary thing to be enjoyed and then forgotten, or at best remembered fondly as one in a long line of others. it is deeper, more dangerous. not love, not yet, but something just as all-encompassing.
the tears spill over unbidden. a sudden wave of emotion floods adam's chest and he can't hold back any longer. not caring whether or not lestat will yell, or hurt him, or even kill him, adam surges forward and wraps his arms around the other in a tight embrace, burying his face against that golden hair. ]
Thank you, [ he whispers, trembling anew but not with fear. ]
[ the embrace is unexpected, as is the hot wet tears dampening the ends of lestat's hair, seeping through to the skin. lestat sniffs again, eyes prickling with tears threatening to come. ]
I - I could have done more. You should not be thanking me - I dressed you up, I b-brought you here, then I - [ ignored him and left him to be picked at by carrion. watched from across the room, knowing what ned had intended and still didn't step in sooner. ] - left you alone.
[ his voice quivers, thick with emotion. slowly he slips arms around adam in return, gentle. the other man is warm and comforting to hold, but as much as lestat wants to pull him into his lap, the guilt he feels prevents him from acting further. ]
[ the tremble in lestat's voice is new: adam has never heard him sound anything like this. gone is the confident rock star who seems more like a god than a person, capable of commanding audiences in the tens of thousands with only so much as a look, a sway of his hips, a sultry note. gone is the man Adam so often feels intimidated by. now lestat seems like little more than a man, broken and pained by his actions, inactions, mistakes, regrets.
it makes adam tighten his grasp, as though it's his job to protect lestat. as though he's capable of anything more than what any human is. what can a mortal give to a vampire, a devil, a monster? what can he offer that lestat would be incapable of attaining for himself?
but the fact remains: lestat is crying. he is sad. he regrets. all human emotions that cannot be so easily tossed aside. the quiver in his voice, that question at the end of his sentence - it makes Adam's heart ache for him. how often has he felt this way in private, with no one there to comfort him? hiding himself away in order to maintain his image, his reputation?
adam understands how that feels. he knows what it is to be angry and hurting but unable to tell anyone, ashamed for being so weak as to feel.
it is easier for us both for you to hate me.
adam inhales deeply, the scent of lestat's hairspray and cologne and the blood of those dead men filling his lungs. ]
I don't think I can hate you, Lestat.
[ he says it softly, voice measured. the tiniest smile crosses his face as he thinks about the second half of what lestat has just said: that he wants to hate adam, but he can't. ]
Hey, look at me --
[ he pulls away just enough, hands slipping to cup lestat's cheeks in order to catch his eye - bloodshot, rimmed with red tears. a terrifying sight that adam has, somehow, become immune to. ]
You saved me.
[ he doesn't know how far it would have gone, how much they would have pushed, if they would have forced him. but he does know it wasn't what he wanted - wasn't what lestat wanted. knows that lestat had been watching, ready to save him from his own blind naivete. ]
Edited (I keep proofreading AFTER posting like a silly potato) 2025-11-30 15:34 (UTC)
wdym armand has never done anything wrong ever :-) dreamstat is so funny though jndkjnknf
[ face cupped by adam's hands, lestat feels childish. he's sure he looks miserable; mouth wobbling in a crooked line and red streaks already beginning to make their way down the porcelain of his cheekbones. adam was the one who needed comforting, who had been cornered and retriggered. typical lestat, bursting into tears and making it about himself somehow.
still, adam said that he couldn't hate him. of course he couldn't - he was a kind boy. lestat gazes at his pretty face, those big doe eyes with long lashes. kind and honest with his feelings, even if he was reckless. so young compared to lestat, too young to have such terror sunk so deep under the skin. being this close to an immortal so drenched in blood would only cause him pain, over and over.
but he was here. lestat was in pain too, had been howling it every night on stage and yet only adam was here. maybe he did not have an understanding of each of lestat's many mistakes, but was that so bad? even for a blink of a mortal's life, he deserved sweetness. ]
..It should have been sooner. [ his reply is quiet, a touch sulky. he gazes up at adam reproachfully. his eyes grow flinty as he recalls the way ned spoke to adam in the bathroom, the callous way the pair roamed their hands. ] The second that his brutish friend touched you. Or before, when he cornered and kissed you.
[ disregarding whether adam enjoyed that part or not, actually. in lestat's opinion, he shouldn't have been kissed at all. ]
BAHAHA like he's beautiful and perfectly acted but he's just...... HE'S NOT LESTAT LMAO T_T
[ maybe it's a little - or a lot - fucked up, that adam is the one doing the comforting after what's just occurred. but it feels right, somehow. this is the first time lestat has ever been truly vulnerable with him and it helps, soothing him; it's as though it heals a part of adam, too, somehow.
besides - it means he gets to hear lestat's side of the story, gets a window into what the blond had seen and heard and felt while adam was busy trying to ignore his feelings. and, again, it's fucked up: the way that a tiny thrill runs up his spine, thinking about the fact that lestat had been watching, not ignoring him at all, as though incapable of ever truly letting adam be free to wander.
it's a chain that adam knows he'll come to hate in time, but one that feels right. belonging to lestat, being protected by him, giving him the comfort he seemingly cannot get from anywhere else. adam is hyper-aware of the fact that he can't possibly replace whoever it is lestat sings about every night but, maybe, he can help fill that void - just a little bit. just for now.
the sulky tinge to lestat's voice, combined with the way his expression shifts as he describes what happened, makes adam's smile grow - and then, before he can help himself, he's laughing. it isn't funny; it's just the built-up adrenaline finding a way out.
he squeezes lestat close once more, skinny arms wrapping as tight as they can around the other's broad frame. he doesn't care if the blood gets on him. ]
Wait - are you saying you didn't want him to kiss me?
[ amidst all the terror and sadness, this stands out. is lestat... jealous? ]
it's OK, dreamstat isn't rly him either :-) (well it's louis' imagined version of him so)
[ the laughter surprises him, blinking in confusion as adam gives him another squeeze. did he do something right? say something funny? whatever it was, adam's laughter makes his stomach flip giddily and a smile pulls at his mouth, too.
right up about till adam's question. this earns a deep frown, that petulance back in his voice.]
What is funny about that? He was a brute and he did not deserve to kiss you.
[ another sniff, haughty now. he turns his head to nose at adam's hair, inhaling the chemical of the shampoo he used, the faint scent of hairspray and smoke. underneath it all - adam, warm and slowly becoming familiar.
a little knot of jealousy there that he did not want to unpick. yes, he knew that likely adam would be hit on if left alone at the club. the patrons who encountered him seemed to appreciate looking at him as much as lestat himself did - he did not need to skim their thoughts to know this.
yes, lestat had let him go anyway, in hopes that his greedy heart would not have a reaction. unfortunately this was not the case.]
Bien sΓ»r, you may kiss whomever you please. But he did not deserve it.
[ do you deserve it, lestat? he doesn't really think he does either, but he sure is judging everyone else's worth too.]
tbh I think I just miss domestic loustat T_T before everything went to hell in a handbasket!
[ adam knows he shouldn't be laughing. nothing about what happened tonight is funny - not the way lestat treated him, not what happened in the bathroom, not the idea that this centuries-old vampire is somehow so taken with a human that he'd kill to protect him.
maybe adam's finally gone crazy. maybe his brain has finally snapped under the pressure. maybe this is just another hallucination, a dream made up by a mind too damaged to deal with reality. whatever it is, he doesn't care. he doesn't care that lestat was an asshole, that those men are dead, that he's more fucked up than anyone could ever possibly understand.
maybe, just maybe, they were meant to find each other.
adam pulls back once more, eyes shining with unshed tears and - of all things - a mischievous little look on his face. lestat's petulance is a familiar thing; the contrast of that childish emotion amidst all this darkness is jarring in the best way.
then the blond says two things that make adam's heart twist in his chest:
you may kiss whomever you please - a lie?
he did not deserve it - the truth. ]
Were you watching the whole time?
[ it's not an accusation. in fact, it's the opposite, a playful, teasing question meant to evoke embarrassment rather than shame. adam's thumbs brush over lestat's cheeks now, wiping away those rivulets of blood. ]
He kissed me before he did anything shitty, y'know.
[ what adam means is clear: lestat must have judged this man well before he ever made a move. must have watched adam up on that balcony and decided his fate well in advance. must care deeply enough about his human pet to set parameters as to who may and may not be allowed near him.
it's fucked up. it's also the hottest thing adam's ever experienced. his pulse begins to quicken again, just a little, as the idea of this sets the gears of his mind into motion: does lestat truly like him that much? want him that much? he's getting ahead of himself, he's sure, but -- ]
I feel that!!! dreamstat is at least a glimpse into the stat that louis misses ;w; a silly boye
[ lestat cannot help but feel sulky as adam leans back, taking away his comforting warm hair to nuzzle against. a frown forms, and he is sorely tempted to snatch the other man back against him to cradle. but oh, adam is touching his face softly, pads of his thumbs slightly roughened across his cheeks. it takes a moment for his question to register and despite the tone, his stomach twists uncomfortably.
a familiar question, carrying familiar guilt. even if it was not the same situation at all, lestat cannot help but feel horribly defensive - and justified. what would have happened if he had not been watching? only catching the tail end of adam's despair due to negligence?]
-You have a way of stealing my attention, Adam. [ it's not a no. maybe he hadn't been watching every second but he had been monitoring, certainly. even while he was fighting with himself about doing so.]
It does not matter. His intent was the same, kiss or no.
[ the quickening of adam's pulse concerns him - more fear? or anger? he meets his eyes, brow creasing very slightly. questing for answers before reaching out to skim the waters of his mind, feather light.]
You gave him a sweetness he immediately squandered. It is a shame, that is all.
[ hes blinking slowly, unaware that he's doing it. subtle methods in an attempt to soothe adam's heart rate back down from what he thinks may be rising panic.]
yes!! obsessed with dreamstat also! jacob mentioned in an interview that it's louis' version of him
(( ooc: and i am head over heels for that idea lskjdshdg ))
[ the not-yes, not-no response is so typical of lestat that adam laughs again, though now it's soft and affectionate. he's beginning to understand that this is what the blond does when confronted with things he'd rather avoid: he dodges the question, gives a non-answer, tries to use all that charisma of his to wiggle his way out of the conversation altogether.
but adam hears the answer beneath it. hears the lack of a no and, perhaps selfishly, interprets it as a yes. watching. waiting. making sure he was protected. though lestat's walls are clearly back up his earlier vulnerability still sits in adam's memory, and that image of him is the one that best supports his theory. he'd been so regretful - saying he should've stepped in earlier - that, clearly, he knew what was happening from the very start.
adam knows better than to bring any of this up, of course. there's no need. ]
Sweetness, huh?
[ the slow blinks remind adam of a cat; specifically, the stray that lives in his apartment building, the one he gives milk to now and then. lestat certainly looks a lot closer to that particular feline than any other at this particular moment. it makes adam grin, his heartrate calming somewhat from both the effect as well as his own mental coming-to-terms.
for a moment, he simply stays like that, the breeze blowing past them. lestat is a mess, but to adam, he's never been more beautiful. his heart aches and swells the same way any human's does - more, even. like this, sitting on the pavement, he feels more at ease with lestat than he ever has before. it's as though they're just friends sharing a smoke, talking about the shitty world around them, laughing over dumb jokes.
his grin softens; wrinkles crease the corners of his eyes. he says nothing else before he leans in to press a chaste kiss to lestat's lips, holding his face close, one thought clear inside his mind:
It's okay if you want my sweetness all to yourself.
he doesn't know if lestat will be able to hear it, but that doesn't matter. ]
yeah!!! and it makes you think like. have we seen lestat depicted yet that isnt someones take on him
[ ooc: knowing that sam reid deliberately plays up different versions of him when diff characters are retelling events etc etc. its why im EXTRA excited for s3 bc finally the diva himself... ]
[ a very slight tilt of lestat's head at the laugh; again? even though he has the ability to literally read adam's mind, somehow he was the one a step behind here. whatever was making him smile like that was no reason to be too concerned however; whatever panic had set in seemed to have fully passed.
truthfully, the only real clear image he could discern from the other man's mind was that of a skinny feline winding around the ragged hems of adam's jeans, huge eyes adoring. that, and an uncomfortable reflection of himself; eyes darkened by mascara, cheeks still stained a little red, brow furrowed. dizzying for an instant.
he catches a glimpse of the charming way adam's eyes crinkle, boyish and charming. then, a soft pressure on his mouth, hands framing his face as if holding something precious. startled, his lashes flutter, then close.
there's a delicate feeling in his chest, a tiny glass flower unfurling in the presence of the sun. a trembling hope he doesn't dare to touch in fear of it shattering. adam's mouth is warm, his hands moreso, but lestat shivers under the touch somehow. how long had it been since he had been held like something breakable?
touching the pool of adam's mind again is automatic enough that the focused thought immediately resounds in his head. it makes him frown into the kiss, then draw back from it entirely.
a moment of staring at adam with growing intensity, disbelief. then he reaches for adam, cupping the back of his neck to draw him back into a firm kiss again. it's far less soft than adam's, hungry where his was chaste. a desperate need to fill the ache suddenly yawning in his chest, the eager loneliness threatening to consume him whole. ]
YESSSS SAME kjdfhgdkfh I can't wait to see the similarities/differences/LESTAT of it all
[ as they linger in the kiss a strange sort of peace descends upon them, as though none of tonight's events were real. in this moment it is just the two of them and the wind, all alone in the wide world except for one another, not needing anything else. the anger and apathy sitting in adam's heart lifts and he realizes slowly that this is what he wants: to be with lestat. nothing more than that.
perhaps it's a terrible thing to want. selfish, stupid. but when lestat draws away, when he fixes the human with a stare as intense as the sun, adam knows he cannot deny it. more than the sex, more than the friendship, this is what he wants - to fill that void and, in turn, have his own filled as well.
when lestat kisses him again it is a powerful thing, the butterflies hibernating inside adam's chest suddenly erupting into a storm of sound and colour. he knows without knowing that lestat has heard him, heard his silent permission, and that makes him giddy; he grins into the kiss, surging forward as the need to be closer overtakes him.
he can taste the desperation on lestat's tongue, in his hands where he grasps at adam's neck. the vampire had resisted the urge to pull Adam into his lap earlier; adam himself is not capable of such resistance now. he pushes his way into lestat's arms, all but climbing on top of him, a knee on either side of the man's hips as he continues to kiss him. eager little sounds spill from him, spiked with a moan here and there as the taste of blood fills his mouth. he licks over lestat's fangs, small as they are, and his own hands fly up to card through his golden hair.
Yours his mind screams, one clear word amidst a haze of desire and gratitude. Let me be yours. ]
not bothered in the slightest by his lil human plaything meeting other people who appreciate him!!!
as adam waits for the man's return he picks his camera back up, focusing on the area around the bar now. it's a central, circular-shaped thing, with gorgeous young people flair bartending and picking up tips left and right. their dexterity is mesmerizing: adam could never be that good with his hands.
he's snapped a few half-decent shots by the time ned returns. letting his camera hang down around his neck, he reaches out to take the offered glass, not minding the moisture that immediately coats his fingers. the scent floats up into his nose and just one sip is enough to put him in a better mood, his body's sense memory kicking in. drinking is something he only really does socially, not because he wants to but because he has to split the cost most of the time - and most of those times happened when he was hanging around with scott and his bandmates, or sitting on the grass at a music festival. rare snippets of happiness dotted amidst his generally bleak life.
ned, the man says. a funny sounding name, especially compared to the dramatic sound of lestat. it makes adam grin. this guy is so normal - just a young, handsome man having a good time, without some scary vampiric aura or tragic past to contend with. the red light thankfully hides the blush that graces his cheeks when ned calls him cute, and that same feeling from before stirs in his stomach once again. excitement. ]
Well, I...
[ his eyes look out over the dancefloor and pause as a certain head of blond hair comes into view. he's half-hidden by other bodies, but there's no mistaking lestat, sprawled out with his sunglasses and looking every bit like the rock star he is.
adam's stomach lurches momentarily. but then he thinks about what lestat told him, about the way he'd so easily brushed the human off, and that's enough to make adam give this new person his full attention. ]
Just working, [ he replies, leaning in a bit closer - ostensibly so it's easier to talk, but also because he really likes whatever cologne ned is wearing. he lets his own eyes wander now, taking in the well-muscled arms hiding beneath his shirt, the difference in their heights, that wide smile. ]
I'm Adam. [ he raises his glass in cheers, his body relaxing as he settles into the conversation. ] Do you come here often? It seems like a lot of people know you.
no subject
a shrug at adam's question, smile not fading. ]
Nah, only when I'm really desperate. Then I chat up the cutest guy who isn't here looking to hook up.
[ a snicker at his own line. he sips at his beer before continuing, gesturing for a moment.]
They're old uni mates, come from across the pond to check out whatever bleak American hole I've dug myself into. Knobs, the lot of them.
[ he glances over to the table of people and waves cheerily, immediately earning boos and rude gestures in response. a few of the girls cackle behind their hands though, indicating it was all friendly ribbing.]
See? They're just envious that they don't get to buy you a drink.
[ his attention wafts back to adam, offering him a sheepish grin.]
Are you here often? I could stop by more often if you're here. Sorry - [ a laugh, wincing at himself.] I'm coming on a bit strong. It's been a while.
no subject
he laughs in unison with the group as they heckle the other man, before ducking his head as a fresh wave of butterflies makes its way through his body. getting attention like this is new and exciting, and he isn't quite sure what to do with himself.
even when ned stumbles a bit, it's so charming that adam can't fault him for it. when he looks up again he's grinning, clearly please, a sparkle in his eye. ]
Don't worry about it.
[ he swallows; then, summoning his courage, he reaches out to brush his fingers over ned's elbow - a gesture that, while simple, clearly communicates the fact that he likes the attention. ]
It's actually my first time here. [ he tilts his head towards the dancefloor but doesn't look away, not wanting to be reminded of lestat right now. a hint of mischief enters his expression and he adds playfully, ]
What makes you think I'm not looking to hook up?
no subject
Yeah? Oh, you said that you were working, so - [ a shrug. he takes another big gulp of beer, leans a little closer. ]
I mean, shit - hooking up while you're on the clock is pretty hot, yeah? You've got plenty of time to take photos.
[ straightening up again, he glances back over to the table of young people, the others lingering at the bar. ]
The way some of my mates are eying you, I'd say they're pretty pissed at me for snagging your attention. You got the pick of the litter up here, and it's only your first time.
[ the red wash of neon makes his eyes look big and dark as he looks back to adam, gaze obviously set on the smaller man's mouth. then lower, at the lace only just obscuring creamy skin, the shadow of his nipples. ]
Hell, you could pick up all of us tonight if you wanted. Fuck your boss.
no subject
adam takes a long drink, gulping the beer down and feeling its cold heat wash over his insides. maybe he should be more like lestat. ignore the consequences, do what he wants. it's not as though trying to live a decent life has ever gotten him anywhere.
rise and shine, adam.
a visible shiver runs through him as those words ghost through his skull; thankfully, it happens at the same time ned's eyes wander over his body, so it seems less like a trauma response and more like a reaction to being ogled so obviously.
fuck your boss ned says and it makes adam laugh. if only he knew how true that was. ]
Let's go somewhere else,
[ he hears himself say, eyes wide and dark as he looks up at ned. ]
no subject
Fuck, sure. Can I give you an escorted tour of the bathroom, Adam?
[ he offers adam an elbow, a tad sheepish but willing to commit to the corniness. once he's sure adam will follow, he'll lead the other man to the men's bathroom on the upper floor. his friends from the nearby table hoot and holler at the two of them as they pass, some with stares that linger longer than others.
from across the room, despite the hand of a tanned gentleman venturing a hand inside his shirt, sharp eyes watch the two depart from the balcony. further attempts to caress the blonde are blatantly ignored, even after straddling his lap to get his attention. all it earns is a snap of irritation for blocking his eye line before there's a flash of fangs and he seals his mouth onto the man's neck, earning a moan swallowed by both the music and lestat himself. it's a small mouthful, enough to wet his mouth and send his nerves tingling.
music pulsing and head spinning, the handsy patron does not seem to register being lifted and placed aside like he weighed nothing. likewise, no one in the VIP section seems to notice that lestat has slipped away until he's vanished into the cluster of gyrating bodies. absolutely not keeping a close eye on adam and his new friend eagerly leading to the bathroom.]
no subject
so he chugs the rest of his beer, then sets his glass aside. the grin on his face reaches all the way to his eyes as he playfully takes ned's elbow, chuckling a little at how cute it is. ]
You're quite the gentleman, [ he remarks, looking up at the taller man. as they pass the group at the table Adam glances back over this shoulder at them and, sure enough, a few are staring at him. it brings a fresh flush to his face and he tries not to feel too excited by the attention, knowing most of it can be chalked up to his clothing. he's learned from lestat that showing a little skin is the perfect way to get eyes pointed in your direction.
but - that's enough thoughts about lestat. it doesn't take long to reach the bathroom; once they're there, it becomes pretty obvious that some other men have had a similar idea. soft moans and grunts echo from the farthest stall, and there's a small group gathered by the sinks eyeing each other up in between snorting lines of coke. adam does his best to focus on Ned but the truth is that he himself has started to get a little nervous - he doesn't exactly know what he should do next. his grip on the other's arm tightens as a result, communicating his feelings without words. ]
tw asshole behaviour ft my essay
no time is wasted now that he has the smaller man where he can reach him. ned leans heavily against the tile, swooping down to press his mouth to adam's. his hands grasp at his chest over the lace, thumb purposefully stroking over the shadow of the nipple underneath. evidently he's very interested, his hips pressing against the others eliciting a groan that mirrors the others echoing in the bathroom.]
Give it a moment and I'll bend you over in the stall, yeah? [ ned's voice is gravelly now, just quiet enough for adam to hear.]
've got poppers in my back pocket just for eager little faggots like you. Guess it's my lucky day.
[ another few men enter the bathroom, one that ned glances up at and nods tightly to. there's another warm pressure against adam's waist now, attempting in vain to dig under the corset and many belts in order to find the bottom hem of the lace shirt. another whiff of cologne too, a hard body pressing in from the other side. one of ned's friends evidently, helping himself to a feel of adam's waist.
ned says something to him, muffled by the thrum of the music. a short laugh in response before a hand slips down to grasp at adam's ass, thick fingers feeling for the cleft of his cheeks and pressing in insistently.
then, a snap. the sound evokes especially dry twigs, a clean sharp break. it's audible over the music from this close, as is the feeble whimper of ned's companion. the pressure on adam's rear is immediately lifted, though the man slumps forward a little, doubling over and clutching his hand to his chest.
there's a sudden tension in the air prickling ned's skin into goosebumps that he notes far too late. despite his friend making a girly moan, he was not distracted away from pressing his tongue into the mouth of the pretty young thing he had secured. he tasted like summer, the light coating of beer still on his lips, and ned intended to compare the taste of him after having his fun. perhaps there would still be remnants of the same taste after, too.
distantly, he's aware of his body operating as if by an invisible puppeteer. it's not an unfamiliar sensation, but one his mind skips on like a scratch in a disk, revisiting a couple of times before the movements sink in. he's kissing adam, grasping for a feel of his sides, his chest, the side of his neck. feeling the other man swallow under his hands, the surge of excitement at the power held there. then he's reaching back into his pocket for the little vial tucked there. at some point he's broken off the kiss and has leant back to uncap the vial and snort from it, a potent whiff of pure chemical that makes his head blank out pleasantly and his muscles loosen.
there's the scent of ozone in the air beyond the chemicals, a tension like before lightning strikes. if ned focuses, he distantly recalls the scent lingering just before his friend had made the strangled sound.
then, far too soon, another deep sniff. this whites out his vision for a heartbeat, has the man stagger on his feet. dazed, he begins to frown deeply at himself. his eyes focus and unfocus. his weight leans heavily against the tile wall, mind struggling to make sense of what was happening before his arm raises again. another deep snort and he slumps, though held taut before he can collapse.
there's tight pressure around his chest, strong arms keeping him upright. a brush of hair against his crisp shirt, then cold ice through his veins. ned gasps wetly, eyes fluttering and knees buckling as lestat drinks deep and quick. the colour drains from him, as does the little twitches of life. in a few seconds, the man is close to death with a new jagged gash in the side of his neck.
somehow all of this goes unnoticed by the other patrons of the bathroom. a stall empties of its occupants, allowing lestat to smoothly escort a swaying ned inside, shortly followed by his barely conscious friend.
when the stall door is closed and the blonde returns, there's a dark liquid discoloured by the neon lights coating his fingertips, dripping from his claws. this he licks from his fingers idly, eyes large and dark as he looks adam over. a moment of hesitation - a glance at the door. but he drifts back to adam, jaw clenched and the line of his body tight.]
Chèri. Tout va bien? [ tone soft, despite the blood around his mouth. then his eyes flatten, sharp and predatory.]
That vermin will not bother you any longer.
this essay gets an A+++ from professor egg
still, he can't pretend he doesn't like how it feels when ned starts touching him. he groans into the kiss, eagerly parting his lips, his chest arching as the other man's thumbs find his pert nipples. the fabric feels good against his sensitive skin, much better than the worn-out cotton of his t-shirts, and when ned's hips press forward adam's move in response, grinding up against him.
ned speaks and adam nods, breathless - but then he hears that word. faggot. it makes him frown in confusion, eyebrows knitting together. he's about to say something when he sees ned acknowledge one of the men entering the bathroom, and before he can stop it there's suddenly an extra pair of hands touching him, an extra body pressed up against his in a hard line.
adam hadn't signed up for this sort of thing. panic builds in his chest as he begins to struggle against the two men, breath quickening as he feels them grasping and squeezing without permission. the laugh is cruel, wicked, and it makes adam shut his eyes tight, trying to come up with a way out now that he's realizing what's going to happen to him.
he hears the snap but doesn't know what it means; all he knows is that the fingers that were so insistently groping him are suddenly gone. he would turn to look but ned is kissing him again, deep and hungry. his hands are everywhere and adam is torn between wanting to enjoy it and knowing that this is wrong, that ned doesn't actually care about him at all, that he saw adam as just another guy he could take advantage of. what was it that he'd said? he'd come here looking for the cutest guy who didn't want to hook up? what a load of shit.
fear and hatred spike inside adam's bloodstream as he watches the taller man inhale the drugs, still not knowing how he can escape - the body behind him is heavy and strong, and he has no idea if ned will get violent once adam tries to tell him to stop.
but then ned does something strange. he inhales again, and again - too much, too many times. adam doesn't know a ton about how poppers work but he can read the confusion on ned's face, can tell that he isn't acting of his own volition. the tension in the air builds and builds, a storm on the horizon, a blue sky turned to terrible grey, and then -- ]
Lestat?
[ the name leaves adam's lips in a whisper. a prayer. his god, come to save him.
he watches without blinking as lestat drains the man, the colour disappearing quickly from his face. watches as the life fades from those eyes, as that strong body becomes feeble and pathetic. everything around their little tableau fades away; all adam can see is the vision before him, a beautiful demon descending upon the worst kind of person imaginable.
overhead, the lights flicker - or, maybe, that's just adam's imagination. it suddenly feels as though he can hear the electricity buzzing through their fluorescent tubes. the clink of metal on metal, the drip-drip-drip of water from a faucet. his vision narrows, darkening around the edges.
lestat disappears. it's only for a moment, but he's gone, and ned is gone, and so is the man who had tried to join him. everyone is gone and adam is alone in a bathroom with a chain around his ankle, a dead man's blood in front of him, a cassette tape and a video camera and a gun and a key and a
cheri.
lestat's voice. adam blinks; his eyes are dry. his entire body is shaking. he feels dizzy; in fact, he sinks to his knees, fingernails scraping at the wall, at the floor, at anything he can reach.
alone alone alone. dying dying dying. his shoulder aches and burns with the ghost of a wound that never fully healed. ]
I --
[ he tries to speak, but his throat squeezes the words into nothing before they can escape. overhead, the lights flicker, threatening darkness. ]
I need to - leave --
[ he can't. he's trapped. there's a chain on his ankle and he's killed an innocent man. he doesn't deserve to live. he failed his test.
most people are so ungrateful to be alive.
he's still failing. ]
balances the esteemed professor on a spoon
one stride closes the distance between them. he cannot help but note how dark the remaining blood is against the pale of adam's skin as he stoops to gather him, a stain along a wiry bicep where the vampire touches.]
You are here, mon lapin, I am here. Let me - come.
[ easily lestat lifts adam close to his chest and rises, a cherished bundle he holds delicately. now the other bathroom occupants begin to stare, some at the intimidating glare shot by the blonde man, others with creases of concern on their brow for the young man clearly having a bad trip. lestat levels a stare at each in turn, then spins on a heel and exits with adam in his arms.
outside, the music thuds relentlessly. dizzying, with the shifting lights and the crush of bodies. suddenly lestat is deeply annoyed with everything; the setting, the club goers, himself. hyper aware of how the oppressive atmosphere must contribute to the panicked state of adam, peeved at how many people stood between him and the venue exit. annoyed that he had let things develop this far, when clearly he could read the lust on the now dying ned's mind across the room.
another sharp tang of ozone in the air as his eyes flare, growing huge and dark in the neon. the room seems to stutter in time, music slowing to a halt, providing a reprieve from the endless thudding. bodies slow admist their twisting. sweat defies gravity and stops midway to the floor.
lestat's jaw is clenched tight, the muscles of his face visible, beads of blood sweat on his forehead as he strides forward. slips through the tangles of bodies, weaving as best he can with his arms full of adam. he won't be able to hold this for long, so he intends to be as quick as he can.]
ehehehe π
mentally, adam is still there: back in that bathroom. not the one at the club, but the other one - huge and damp and terrifying. cold, cold. why is he so cold? there's so much blood. his eyes catch on lestat's hand where it curls around his arm and he lets out a terrified whimper; it's dark and crimson, even under the red lights that flood the space around them. whose blood is it? his? lestat's? the doctor, the man he killed?
if he had the strength, adam would push himself out of lestat's arms. he would run and run and run - not knowing where he was going, just needing to escape. to get as far away as possible from the fear that's drowning him alive. but right now he's little more than a rabbit caught in a trap, quivering as it awaits its fate.
the music around them is very very loud. there are voices, so many voices, pounding into adam's head. he presses his face as deep into lestat's chest as he possibly can, fingernails digging into any part of the blond's body they can reach. the voices tell him everything he has done wrong. they say that this is his own fault. they repeat that word: faggot. faggot. faggot. his father's voice is there too.
and then, suddenly - everything is silent.
it takes a long moment before adam is able to raise his head in order to see what's going on; when he does, he's certain that he must still be hallucinating. everything around them is frozen, the bodies and the lights and the sounds, gone impossibly still even as lestat still guides them through the space.
lestat.
adam looks up for the first time since he watched lestat's fangs descend into the neck of his assailant and is shocked by what he sees. lestat is clearly focusing as intensely as possible, the muscles of his jaw popping as he clenches his teeth, eyes huger and darker than adam has ever seen them. he is terrifying; he is beautiful. ]
Lestat...?
[ barely a whisper. adam's throat is too dry. but, somehow, he manages to raise a shaking hand upwards, brushing over the vampire's neck as light as a feather. ]
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his strength is beginning to flag as they weave closer to the EXIT sign above a door to the back. the warmth ghosting over his neck catches his attention and he ignores it for a beat, attempting to manage his focus adequately. huge monstrous pupils slide down to acknowledge adam, unblinking and bloodshot.
lestat's voice is silky, effortless as he speaks into adam's mind - clear in the eerie silence of the frozen club. ]
Un instant. There is nothing for you to fear here.
[ even as he says this, the world begins to stutter and skip. a chaotic siren of movement and noise for a split second before freezing again. lestat winces, shakes his head as if to dislodge something. though covered by a wall of blonde waves, his ears begin to slowly bleed.
its only another ten seconds at most before he turns and shoulders the door to open it. the rush of night air is crisp in comparison to indoors, with a strong breeze that races around the two of them in the parking lot. behind them, the nightclub resumes its endless noise of people and pulsing bass as if nothing had occurred.
gingerly, the blonde takes a few steps towards the solid concrete wall and carefully lowers adam to the ground. with a grunt, he takes a seat beside him. his head hits the wall a little carelessly and he does not seem to mind, eyes fluttering closed and breathing deeply. ]
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lestat's voice sounds as calm and confident as it always does within his head, but there's no mistaking the way he shakes his head, the sudden blare of noise before it's forced back to silence. adam stares up at him for the rest of the walk towards the door and out into the parking lot; even when lestat sets him down he keeps staring, only blinking when the wind blows past his eyes.
lestat's hair blows, too, and now that they're not drowning in the red lights of the club adam can see just how bad he looks. his nails, fingers, forearms are covered in dark blood; he's visibly out of breath; when the wind ruffles through his hair, the trickles of blood along his ears and neck are impossible to miss.
adam remains silent, not moving. his shaking has subsided somewhat, and the voices in his head are gone. out here the air smells faintly of iron and sewage, completely different from the overpowering cologne and alcohol adam's nose has been stuffed with since he arrived, and though these new cents aren't exactly pleasant they help ground him. ]
Lestat...
[ apparently, that's all he's able to say. he doesn't even try to touch the other man, still too shaken up, but his eyes linger on the blond's body, his expression a strange mixture of fear, confusion, and relief. ]
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the fury that he himself had felt is taking its toll on him, adrenaline fading away and leaving nothing to fill the gap. alarming, just how quickly the fog of rage nearly took away his control entirely there. indulged just a little by tearing out one man's throat with his fingers and a chunk of flesh from ned's abdomen.
this just clarified what he had already known; whatever this companionship was with adam, it was enough to illicit real fear and real anger from the vampire. another vulnerability, another piece of his heart to be yanked around.
hair draped over his face, he pries open an eye to peek over at adam. the look on his face is enough to indicate that the ghosts had at least begun to fade from his mind, concerned now with a new unknown.
he cannot even offer adam a weak smile, but tries to make his voice soft.]
Let me catch my breath. [ a wince, and he shuts his eyes again.]
I will get us home. A shame. You look very elegant.
[ a sniff, another deep breath. his voice is barely audible as he murmurs.] Je suis vraiment dΓ©solΓ©.
that ICON IS KILLING MEEEEEEEE BABY BOY LESTAT T____T <333
now that his head is a bit clearer adam can also think about what's just happened. while some parts are foggy - what was real, what did he hallucinate? - he knows one thing for certain: lestat killed that man. drained him and shoved him in a bathroom stall to be found later by some other partygoer, or perhaps a janitor, someone who will undoubtedly be forever scarred by the atrocity they have just borne witness to.
lestat killed him because of adam. and adam knows he should feel bad, feel awful, for having ned's blood on his hands - but he does not. he distinctly remembers the sense of betrayal and terror that lit up his veins right before lestat appeared and the darkest part of his soul relishes what has happened: the devil came to save him.
lestat speaks, too quiet; he is a shadow of his usual self. the french that catches on the wind is almost blown away before adam can hear it but he hears the syllables just in time. he does not know what they mean, but he can guess. ]
Why are you sorry?
[ his voice is raw, cracked. tears prickle at the corners of his eyes but he ignores them. his fingers curl into the pink fabric of lestat's shirt, speckled with the blood of dead men. ]
You didn't do anything --
[ he did everything. his appearance alone is enough to make the reality of their relationship quite plain: it is not some temporary thing to be enjoyed and then forgotten, or at best remembered fondly as one in a long line of others. it is deeper, more dangerous. not love, not yet, but something just as all-encompassing.
the tears spill over unbidden. a sudden wave of emotion floods adam's chest and he can't hold back any longer. not caring whether or not lestat will yell, or hurt him, or even kill him, adam surges forward and wraps his arms around the other in a tight embrace, burying his face against that golden hair. ]
Thank you, [ he whispers, trembling anew but not with fear. ]
SEASON TWO LESTAT GOES HARD (sad)
I - I could have done more. You should not be thanking me - I dressed you up, I b-brought you here, then I - [ ignored him and left him to be picked at by carrion. watched from across the room, knowing what ned had intended and still didn't step in sooner. ] - left you alone.
[ his voice quivers, thick with emotion. slowly he slips arms around adam in return, gentle. the other man is warm and comforting to hold, but as much as lestat wants to pull him into his lap, the guilt he feels prevents him from acting further. ]
I sh-shouldn't even be doing this? [ a questioning lilt at the end of his sentence, almost questioning himself. automatically, he begins to stroke adam's back in soothing circles, shutting his eyes as the movement seems to soothe him, too. ] It is easier for us both for you to hate me, chΓ©ri. I cannot bring myself to.
i'm having such a tough time w/s2 bc I LOVE DREAMSTAT but.... I don't like armand WHOOPS T_T
it makes adam tighten his grasp, as though it's his job to protect lestat. as though he's capable of anything more than what any human is. what can a mortal give to a vampire, a devil, a monster? what can he offer that lestat would be incapable of attaining for himself?
but the fact remains: lestat is crying. he is sad. he regrets. all human emotions that cannot be so easily tossed aside. the quiver in his voice, that question at the end of his sentence - it makes Adam's heart ache for him. how often has he felt this way in private, with no one there to comfort him? hiding himself away in order to maintain his image, his reputation?
adam understands how that feels. he knows what it is to be angry and hurting but unable to tell anyone, ashamed for being so weak as to feel.
it is easier for us both for you to hate me.
adam inhales deeply, the scent of lestat's hairspray and cologne and the blood of those dead men filling his lungs. ]
I don't think I can hate you, Lestat.
[ he says it softly, voice measured. the tiniest smile crosses his face as he thinks about the second half of what lestat has just said: that he wants to hate adam, but he can't. ]
Hey, look at me --
[ he pulls away just enough, hands slipping to cup lestat's cheeks in order to catch his eye - bloodshot, rimmed with red tears. a terrifying sight that adam has, somehow, become immune to. ]
You saved me.
[ he doesn't know how far it would have gone, how much they would have pushed, if they would have forced him. but he does know it wasn't what he wanted - wasn't what lestat wanted. knows that lestat had been watching, ready to save him from his own blind naivete. ]
wdym armand has never done anything wrong ever :-) dreamstat is so funny though jndkjnknf
still, adam said that he couldn't hate him. of course he couldn't - he was a kind boy. lestat gazes at his pretty face, those big doe eyes with long lashes. kind and honest with his feelings, even if he was reckless. so young compared to lestat, too young to have such terror sunk so deep under the skin. being this close to an immortal so drenched in blood would only cause him pain, over and over.
but he was here. lestat was in pain too, had been howling it every night on stage and yet only adam was here. maybe he did not have an understanding of each of lestat's many mistakes, but was that so bad? even for a blink of a mortal's life, he deserved sweetness. ]
..It should have been sooner. [ his reply is quiet, a touch sulky. he gazes up at adam reproachfully. his eyes grow flinty as he recalls the way ned spoke to adam in the bathroom, the callous way the pair roamed their hands. ]
The second that his brutish friend touched you. Or before, when he cornered and kissed you.
[ disregarding whether adam enjoyed that part or not, actually. in lestat's opinion, he shouldn't have been kissed at all. ]
BAHAHA like he's beautiful and perfectly acted but he's just...... HE'S NOT LESTAT LMAO T_T
besides - it means he gets to hear lestat's side of the story, gets a window into what the blond had seen and heard and felt while adam was busy trying to ignore his feelings. and, again, it's fucked up: the way that a tiny thrill runs up his spine, thinking about the fact that lestat had been watching, not ignoring him at all, as though incapable of ever truly letting adam be free to wander.
it's a chain that adam knows he'll come to hate in time, but one that feels right. belonging to lestat, being protected by him, giving him the comfort he seemingly cannot get from anywhere else. adam is hyper-aware of the fact that he can't possibly replace whoever it is lestat sings about every night but, maybe, he can help fill that void - just a little bit. just for now.
the sulky tinge to lestat's voice, combined with the way his expression shifts as he describes what happened, makes adam's smile grow - and then, before he can help himself, he's laughing. it isn't funny; it's just the built-up adrenaline finding a way out.
he squeezes lestat close once more, skinny arms wrapping as tight as they can around the other's broad frame. he doesn't care if the blood gets on him. ]
Wait - are you saying you didn't want him to kiss me?
[ amidst all the terror and sadness, this stands out. is lestat... jealous? ]
it's OK, dreamstat isn't rly him either :-) (well it's louis' imagined version of him so)
right up about till adam's question. this earns a deep frown, that petulance back in his voice.]
What is funny about that? He was a brute and he did not deserve to kiss you.
[ another sniff, haughty now. he turns his head to nose at adam's hair, inhaling the chemical of the shampoo he used, the faint scent of hairspray and smoke. underneath it all - adam, warm and slowly becoming familiar.
a little knot of jealousy there that he did not want to unpick. yes, he knew that likely adam would be hit on if left alone at the club. the patrons who encountered him seemed to appreciate looking at him as much as lestat himself did - he did not need to skim their thoughts to know this.
yes, lestat had let him go anyway, in hopes that his greedy heart would not have a reaction. unfortunately this was not the case.]
Bien sΓ»r, you may kiss whomever you please. But he did not deserve it.
[ do you deserve it, lestat? he doesn't really think he does either, but he sure is judging everyone else's worth too.]
tbh I think I just miss domestic loustat T_T before everything went to hell in a handbasket!
maybe adam's finally gone crazy. maybe his brain has finally snapped under the pressure. maybe this is just another hallucination, a dream made up by a mind too damaged to deal with reality. whatever it is, he doesn't care. he doesn't care that lestat was an asshole, that those men are dead, that he's more fucked up than anyone could ever possibly understand.
maybe, just maybe, they were meant to find each other.
adam pulls back once more, eyes shining with unshed tears and - of all things - a mischievous little look on his face. lestat's petulance is a familiar thing; the contrast of that childish emotion amidst all this darkness is jarring in the best way.
then the blond says two things that make adam's heart twist in his chest:
you may kiss whomever you please - a lie?
he did not deserve it - the truth. ]
Were you watching the whole time?
[ it's not an accusation. in fact, it's the opposite, a playful, teasing question meant to evoke embarrassment rather than shame. adam's thumbs brush over lestat's cheeks now, wiping away those rivulets of blood. ]
He kissed me before he did anything shitty, y'know.
[ what adam means is clear: lestat must have judged this man well before he ever made a move. must have watched adam up on that balcony and decided his fate well in advance. must care deeply enough about his human pet to set parameters as to who may and may not be allowed near him.
it's fucked up. it's also the hottest thing adam's ever experienced. his pulse begins to quicken again, just a little, as the idea of this sets the gears of his mind into motion: does lestat truly like him that much? want him that much? he's getting ahead of himself, he's sure, but -- ]
I feel that!!! dreamstat is at least a glimpse into the stat that louis misses ;w; a silly boye
a familiar question, carrying familiar guilt. even if it was not the same situation at all, lestat cannot help but feel horribly defensive - and justified. what would have happened if he had not been watching? only catching the tail end of adam's despair due to negligence?]
-You have a way of stealing my attention, Adam. [ it's not a no. maybe he hadn't been watching every second but he had been monitoring, certainly. even while he was fighting with himself about doing so.]
It does not matter. His intent was the same, kiss or no.
[ the quickening of adam's pulse concerns him - more fear? or anger? he meets his eyes, brow creasing very slightly. questing for answers before reaching out to skim the waters of his mind, feather light.]
You gave him a sweetness he immediately squandered. It is a shame, that is all.
[ hes blinking slowly, unaware that he's doing it. subtle methods in an attempt to soothe adam's heart rate back down from what he thinks may be rising panic.]
yes!! obsessed with dreamstat also! jacob mentioned in an interview that it's louis' version of him
[ the not-yes, not-no response is so typical of lestat that adam laughs again, though now it's soft and affectionate. he's beginning to understand that this is what the blond does when confronted with things he'd rather avoid: he dodges the question, gives a non-answer, tries to use all that charisma of his to wiggle his way out of the conversation altogether.
but adam hears the answer beneath it. hears the lack of a no and, perhaps selfishly, interprets it as a yes. watching. waiting. making sure he was protected. though lestat's walls are clearly back up his earlier vulnerability still sits in adam's memory, and that image of him is the one that best supports his theory. he'd been so regretful - saying he should've stepped in earlier - that, clearly, he knew what was happening from the very start.
adam knows better than to bring any of this up, of course. there's no need. ]
Sweetness, huh?
[ the slow blinks remind adam of a cat; specifically, the stray that lives in his apartment building, the one he gives milk to now and then. lestat certainly looks a lot closer to that particular feline than any other at this particular moment. it makes adam grin, his heartrate calming somewhat from both the effect as well as his own mental coming-to-terms.
for a moment, he simply stays like that, the breeze blowing past them. lestat is a mess, but to adam, he's never been more beautiful. his heart aches and swells the same way any human's does - more, even. like this, sitting on the pavement, he feels more at ease with lestat than he ever has before. it's as though they're just friends sharing a smoke, talking about the shitty world around them, laughing over dumb jokes.
his grin softens; wrinkles crease the corners of his eyes. he says nothing else before he leans in to press a chaste kiss to lestat's lips, holding his face close, one thought clear inside his mind:
It's okay if you want my sweetness all to yourself.
he doesn't know if lestat will be able to hear it, but that doesn't matter. ]
yeah!!! and it makes you think like. have we seen lestat depicted yet that isnt someones take on him
[ a very slight tilt of lestat's head at the laugh; again? even though he has the ability to literally read adam's mind, somehow he was the one a step behind here. whatever was making him smile like that was no reason to be too concerned however; whatever panic had set in seemed to have fully passed.
truthfully, the only real clear image he could discern from the other man's mind was that of a skinny feline winding around the ragged hems of adam's jeans, huge eyes adoring. that, and an uncomfortable reflection of himself; eyes darkened by mascara, cheeks still stained a little red, brow furrowed. dizzying for an instant.
he catches a glimpse of the charming way adam's eyes crinkle, boyish and charming. then, a soft pressure on his mouth, hands framing his face as if holding something precious. startled, his lashes flutter, then close.
there's a delicate feeling in his chest, a tiny glass flower unfurling in the presence of the sun. a trembling hope he doesn't dare to touch in fear of it shattering. adam's mouth is warm, his hands moreso, but lestat shivers under the touch somehow. how long had it been since he had been held like something breakable?
touching the pool of adam's mind again is automatic enough that the focused thought immediately resounds in his head. it makes him frown into the kiss, then draw back from it entirely.
a moment of staring at adam with growing intensity, disbelief. then he reaches for adam, cupping the back of his neck to draw him back into a firm kiss again. it's far less soft than adam's, hungry where his was chaste. a desperate need to fill the ache suddenly yawning in his chest, the eager loneliness threatening to consume him whole. ]
YESSSS SAME kjdfhgdkfh I can't wait to see the similarities/differences/LESTAT of it all
perhaps it's a terrible thing to want. selfish, stupid. but when lestat draws away, when he fixes the human with a stare as intense as the sun, adam knows he cannot deny it. more than the sex, more than the friendship, this is what he wants - to fill that void and, in turn, have his own filled as well.
when lestat kisses him again it is a powerful thing, the butterflies hibernating inside adam's chest suddenly erupting into a storm of sound and colour. he knows without knowing that lestat has heard him, heard his silent permission, and that makes him giddy; he grins into the kiss, surging forward as the need to be closer overtakes him.
he can taste the desperation on lestat's tongue, in his hands where he grasps at adam's neck. the vampire had resisted the urge to pull Adam into his lap earlier; adam himself is not capable of such resistance now. he pushes his way into lestat's arms, all but climbing on top of him, a knee on either side of the man's hips as he continues to kiss him. eager little sounds spill from him, spiked with a moan here and there as the taste of blood fills his mouth. he licks over lestat's fangs, small as they are, and his own hands fly up to card through his golden hair.
Yours his mind screams, one clear word amidst a haze of desire and gratitude. Let me be yours. ]
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not me stealing a line from your cosmos album whoops π
you little demon i literally JUST added that quote (i love it too)
π okay so MAYBE i keep that tab open for reference just in case... MAYBE
hfjfjf CUTE BLESS YOU SORRY ABOUT ALL THE PORN
LMAO LOOK..... there is absolutely no apology needed π it's very. uh. inspiring π
GOOD sometimes I just need active reference ok
I will never not be shocked by how many not-leigh whannells look EXACTLY like leigh whannell
yet I can never find a sam reid lookalike... screaming crying
he's too beautiful, no one can match him π
sad but terribly true π
thankfully there will continue to be many beautiful images of him (2026 come sooner pls)
plssss i heard a rumor its being released in april..... gimme
omg my birthday month PLEASE
happy birthday its lestat crashing out!!!
the best gift ever!!!
HOWLS at the moon they're cute....
JOINS YOUUUU HGNNGHHGHHHlfhdkhjk;lhj
;w; our boyssss
obsessed with them actually T___T <333
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lost in the sauce
for real π
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nooooo adam dont lick my blood haha twirls hair
i need u to know that reply was fucking POETRY anyway he's some bloodplay ππ
PLEASE i am shaking your hand vigorously and writing you into my will for our combined galaxy brains
EHEHEHE <333 something something pressed up against your longing (for whump) lkhjfgkjhgk
heuheueh π€π€
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get licked idiot
LMAOOOOO T_T <3