Date: Tue, 27 Jan 2004 23:46:16 -0600
From: Dallas Vinson <dallaswv@bellsouth.net>
Subject: Armond Chapter 5

Armond

(c) Copyright 2003, Dallas Wayne Vinson (dallaswv@bellsouth.net)
All rights reserved.
GWG Code: Adult, SciFi

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, without written permission from the author.

The character of Armond is in no way related to the character of the same
name by Ann Rice.

The names of the various "Clans" are copyrighted by White Wolf Publishing.
No claim is made to those copyrights.

This story is a work of fiction.  Any similarities to real people are
purely coincidence.

This story contains acts of a gay nature.  There ARE NO graphic
descriptions of sex in, this work (I like to leave something for the
imagination <G>).

Comments are welcomed, flames are ignored.

Latest chapters and discussion list can be found it: http://Armond.webhop.net
Please visit the Gay Writers Guild at: http://www.gaywritersguild.org
--------

Chapter 5

---Armonds perspective---

The look I received from the two of them is kind of hard to describe, it
was kind of a look of combined concern and confusion.

"Michael, Victor, I've fallen in love."

They looked at each other and then back at me, "So what's the problem with
that?"  Michael asked me with a bemused expression on his face.

I paused for just a second, "It's not so much the fact that I've fallen in
love as much as who I've fallen for.  I don't know what you two will think
or how the kindred society will take it when they find out.  Especially
since I've been promised to you Michael."

"Is it a member of another clan and you no longer wish to be brought into
the Toreador clan?"

"Yes and no.  Yes, it is a member of another clan, but I still want to be
Toreador.  Which is another question: how can things work out with us being
in different clans?"

Victor looked at me and smiled, "I don't really see much of a problem then.
The Toreadors tend to get along well with all the other clans here, so I
don't see any concern there.  It's not like you're Gangrel and fell in love
with a Brujah." Victor chuckled.  "Why don't you start by telling us who it
is and we'll just go from there."

I looked at the two kindred and then down at my shoes.  After a moment of
silence I finally spoke. "It's Geri, Pasteur's new childer."

The three of us sat in silence for a few moments, I in shame, Victor and
Michael with their jaws on the ground.

"A Malkavian???  You've fallen for a Malkavian???"  Michael exclaimed,
dumfounded.  Victor started to snicker at Michael's reaction.

"Maybe it's because the madness hasn't taken him yet," I tried to explain,
"maybe it's because I was his first, maybe it's because he still has so
much of his humanity still.  I just don't know why, but YES, I've fallen in
love with a MALKAVIAN!"

Michael looked at me with an expression that I could not read.  "Well, I
did make a comment earlier when they were here that he should have been
brought into clan Toreador.  He does have an eye for art.  I suppose there
are worse people that you could have fallen for.  So don't beat yourself up
over it."

I looked at Victor and he just nodded his head in agreement with what
Michael had said.  I was kind of stunned for a second.  I must say that I
was a bit surprised that they were not making a fuss over this, if not
because of him being in a different clan, then because he was a he.

"Ok, so you don't care that he is a member of another clan?"

"Nope."

"ok, then what about the fact that he's a he?"

Victor and Michael both let out a chuckle.  Victor looked at me with a huge
grin on his face, "Do you know how old I am Armond?"  I shook my head in
the negative.  "It has been just over 800 years since my embrace.  In that
time, I have had dozens even hundreds of lovers.  Both male and female.
Kindred society does not have the same hang-ups about sexuality that mortal
society does.  I think you'll find that the majority of Kindred are what
the outside world would label as 'Bisexual' but we don't use labels here.
We just are.  We don't worry about who we fall in love with, or what sex
they are.  When you live as long as we do, you come to realize that there
are much more important things to worry about than sexual labels."

"He's right Armond; I too have had many lovers of both sexes in the 400
years since I was brought across.  Taking lovers from both sexes is
especially prevalent amongst the Toreador."

I must say that I was a tiny bit shocked to hear them make these
confessions to me.  I never would have thought that either of them would
have ever been in any kind of gay relation- ship.

"The question is," Michael continued, "is does he know and share your
feelings?"

Ahh yes, I thought, the million dollar question.  "I don't know.  I haven't
seen him since I gave him his first feeding earlier tonight.  I heard them
talking about crashing your party so I thought I might be able to catch him
here and talk to him, but I guess I missed him."

Victor put his hand on my shoulder, "Relax, you just missed them by maybe
15 minutes.  I have no idea where they may have gone after leaving here
though.  You're best bet might be to try and catch them at Pasteur's house.
Do you know where it is?"

I thought for a moment, trying to remember.  I had only been there once.
"I'm not sure. I've only been there once, and of course it was dark at the
time.  Guess I need to start getting used to doing things in the dark and
start paying more attention to things." I said with a little chuckle.

"Might not be a bad idea." Victor chuckled with me.  "Come on, I was about
to head out anyway so I'll take you over there."

"Thank you Victor, I really appreciate that"

"By the way Armond, how old are you know?"

"I'm 17.  I'll be 18 in about 3 more months."

"Ahh, so are you ready to be brought across?  In 3 more months you will be
old enough to be brought into Kindred society."  Victor asked with what I
could only describe as a 'paternal' look on his face and in his tone.

"Yes, I'm ready right now.  I have no family that would miss me, and no
reason why I could not be embraced right now." Ok, so maybe that sounded a
bit too excited.

Victor snickered and looked at me, then at Michael, then back to me again.
"When you turn 18, you come see Michael and let him know.  It is one of our
unwritten laws that nobody under the age of 18 be brought across.  When you
turn 18 though...  I hereby give Michael standing permission that on that
day he may embrace you if that is what you still wish in 3 months time.  He
will not need to ask me first, he can just do it.  Though you will still
need to present yourself to me afterwards so that I can officially
recognize you as Kindred."

"Thank you sire." Michael and I both said at the same time.

"Now, if there is not anything more young Armond, I suggest that we be
going and let Michael get back to his other guests."

"No sir, that was about it.  Except, thank you both for your understanding
in this."

"Don't think any more about it." Michael said and stepped to open the door
back to the downstairs room where guests to patiently awaiting his return.

Victor and I then stepped out of the small room.  Victor took his leave of
the others and we went upstairs.  Olympus handed Victor his hat and top
coat while he opened the door to let the two of us out.  We went down the
front steps and into the back seat of Victors waiting car.  A few minutes
later we arrived at Pasteur's home.  I thanked Victor again for both his
understanding, the ride, and for his permission for me to join the
Toreador's.  After I closed the car door and headed towards the house, the
car pulled away.

I walked up to the front door and knocked.  I waited a sew seconds and then
knocked again.  No answer.  I guess they have not gotten home yet, and
there is no telling how long they may be gone.  I had no idea what time it
was or how long until sun rise, so, since I had nothing better to do I
decided to just sit down on the porch and await their return.

***End Chapter***