Date: Sat, 11 Jan 2003 14:56:22 -0800 (PST)
From: Liam Barnes <pagangamer@yahoo.com>
Subject: The Awakening: Chapter 2

<Standard Disclaimer Here> This is a work of fiction involving the
relationship of two young men (well, late teens to mid twenties), both
physical and emotional. If you are made uncomfortable by such subjects as
gay sex, magic and the supernatural, then please stop reading
now. Likewise, if you are below the age of 18, please stop here as well.

<More legal stuff> This story uses elements from White Wolf's World of
Darkness series of games. Mage: The Ascension, Magadon Pharmaceutical,
Verbena, Cult of Ecstasy, The Traditions, The Technocracy, Changeling: the
Dreaming and similar elements are copyrighted by White Wolf Game
Studio. This work of fiction is not a challenge to existing copyrighted
materials, and no profit is gained by it's publication.

	Constructive criticism is highly appreciated; flamers and hate mail
will be ignored. Write me at PaganGamer@yahoo.com with Awakening in the
subject heading.

	Note: Some of you will no doubt see mention of Andrew's High
School, Norna Weaver H.S. and wonder what the hell I am talking
about. Simply put, I made it up. First off, I do not know San Fran well
enough to know what schools serve what areas, and secondly, I had no desire
to spend hours researching one good enough to fit the storyline.



                                   The Awakening
                                   By Liam Barnes


                                     Chapter 2

May 22nd, 2002
4:55 p.m.
Ledescu Residence, Potrero Hill Area

	Andrew glanced over at his alarm clock as he buttoned up his blue
dress shirt. He still had a few minutes before he needed to be
downstairs. Making sure that his sand colored hair was perfect and his
clothes straight, he began to feel the butterflies in his stomach. At first
he had been fighting with himself over whether or not he would meet with
Marcus or not. He still wasn't sure what to think about that whole meeting.
	Showing up to the Wiccan and Pagan Association meeting, and then
proceeding to completely come on to him (with absolutely no encouragement
of my own, Andrew thought vehemently) had made him leery of the whole
situation. Then there was the startling reaction that Marcus had elicited
from him that really made things odd. Oh, Andrew had always known that he
was gay, and had been having a very active fantasy life since he was
10. However, he had never come out to anyone, nor was he prone to such
public displays, not even with his "girlfriends."
	Yet, ever since that afternoon, Andrew had been unable to banish
the rogue-like youth from his mind. The black-headed boy had even invaded
his dreams. And, secretly inside, a part of him was completely turned on by
the fact that a boy as good looking as Marcus would be so into him. In the
end, he had decided that he would meet up with Marcus.
	He had looked up the place that Marcus told him to meet at; Iggy's
HeadShop. It laid right in the middle of the Tenderloin district, a place
noted for its collection of criminals, prostitutes, adult stores and other
such things. During the daytime the area was all right, but nighttime was
something else. He had determined that his parents wouldn't approve of him
going, so he told them that after the ceremonies he would be riding with
friends to the party. Making sure that he had on the lily-shaped pendant
Marcus had given him, he grabbed a small bag with a change of clothes and
headed on downstairs.
	Running downstairs, Andrew suddenly halted, covering his face as
several flashes of light blinded him. "You guys could at least warn me when
you're going to take my picture!" he shouted at his parents. He blinked his
eyes, attempting to remove the spots from his vision.
	"Oh, stop overreacting." He heard his mother state with a hint of
laughter.
	"Besides," his father piped up, "You'll thank us when you get
older. You'll want to remember being this young." He placed an arm around
Andrew's shoulders, holding him close. "Or at least what you looked like
young."
	Andrew's parents were fairly typical people, with very little to
deviate from the norm. His father was a corporate officer of Magadon
Pharmaceutical, while his mother was a stay at home type. His father's
salary was more than enough to allow them a comfortable lifestyle. He loved
the both of them, though he wasn't truly close. His mother went to church
pretty regularly, while his father had always spent a lot of time at work
(talk at the company was that those who didn't spend more than 70 hours a
week there never advanced in the ranks).
	One look at them and one could see where Andrew got his above
average looks. His sandy hair came from his mother's Nordic and Irish
heritage, while his lithe frame and swarthy skin came from his father's
Romanian family line. Both of his parents themselves seemed to be
stereotypes of their own backgrounds; his father was tall, dark headed and
stubborn, his mother shorter, with reddish-blond hair, pale skin and
freckles. The family portrait on the stairway wall could have been used for
the All-American Family Magazine cover.
	Andrew himself attended the local school, Norna Weaver High School,
though most of the students just called it Weaver High. It was a fairly new
school, established by the wealthy family of a prominent scientist for
Genetech who died a few years back. They named it after his missing
daughter. Apparently the mother had killed herself shortly after it all
happened. At least, that was the official statement. The school kids had
their own stories. Rumors of murder and curses, even ghostly giant spiders
roaming the halls at night floated amid the students since the day the
school had opened.
	"Let's hurry and eat before dinner gets cold," his mother
stated. She gave Andrew a kiss on the cheek as she walked by. "I know you
plan on spending all night at the party, so you'd better eat up. I doubt
that there'll be any real food." She had made lasagna, just about one of
his most favorite things in all the world.
	"You know it," he laughed back. "It'll be pop, candy, and junk food
for as far as the eyes can see."
	They sat down around the table, talking the usual. His father
talked about the new projects coming in to work. His mother talked about
the neighborhood gossip. Andrew told them about some of the things at
school. The hour passed, and then they were off. Andrew could feel the
butterflies spinning furiously in his stomach as the meeting with Marcus
came closer.

May 22nd, 2002 9:46 p.m.  Outside Iggy's HeadShop, The Tenderloin

	The cab pulled up to the front of a strip of decaying storefronts,
stopping in front of one with a wood façade. A wooden sign displaying
Robert Crumb artwork swung slightly over the wooden door. Andrew looked
around the dimly lit street. Trash littered the sidewalks and road, while
mindless looking street people waded through the mess as though they were
zombies. Needless to say, he was starting to feel real nervous about this
meeting.
	"Is this it?" He asked the aged cabbie. He desperately was hoping
that the man was just getting his bearings.
	"Yeppurs."
	He sighed and pulled out the owed fair to give to the older
man. Grabbing his bag, he hopped out of the cab, and stood for a moment,
staring at the door. There was something . . . off about the place, kind of
like it was there, but not all the way. He really couldn't understand
it. He heard the cab take off, and shrugged his shoulders. Well, guess
there is no going back.
	Opening the door, he was engulfed in multi-scented smoke that
billowed out of the shop. The store was cluttered, as were most headshops,
with various useless nick knacks; rainbow hued black light candles shaped
like frogs and mushrooms, bead curtains, a multitude of bongs and other
smoking paraphernalia, and so on. There were a few people in the main room,
although he could tell that there were other rooms to the side. The place
had a comforting, if not heady feel to it. Of course, Andrew was pretty
sure that most of that came from some contact high off of whatever was
being burned.
	Standing at a well worn counter was a shorter, old man (Andrew's
first thought was that he might have been standing on a step chair) who had
bushy gray-brown hair and eyebrows. His cheeks were quite flush, and his
eyes appeared glazed over, if not at least content. The impression was much
like one of the Hobbits from the Lord of the Rings movie.
	"How may this old man help you, young sir?" If there had been any
doubt as to the man's state of mind before, it was completely removed now.
	"Um," he began intelligently. "Actually, I am supposed to be
meeting someone here . . ."
	"Ah, yes." The older man smiled pleasantly.
	Andrew waited, thinking that the other was going to continue. When
it became apparent that he wasn't, Andrew continued. "Um, about my height
and age. Black hair, pale skin . . ."
	The man just smiled and nodded, seeming happy to just be listening,
no matter what the conversation was. Andrew felt he could have been reading
from the phone book and still have gotten the same reaction. He looked
around quickly. The wafting incenses must have been messing with his head,
because he could have sworn that he saw mushrooms growing on one of the
walls, glowing with a faint blue light. Then, just as quickly, his view
changed, and he realized that it was just an illusion caused by reflected
light from a nearby novelty lamp.
	"Have a cookie,"
	The statement brought his attention back to the man. Looking just
as he had before, the man pushed forward a large earthen bowl filled with
cookies of every type. "Oh, ah thank you." He reached in and took one,
pulling out an oatmeal raisin cookie, his favorite. Even has the little
bits of walnut and apples, just like my Gran used to make, he thought.
	"Have something to drink it down with too," he offered. "A well fed
customer is a happy customer, I always say." The old man pushed a glass of
milk towards him.
	"You say a lot of things, Herbie," came a familiar voice from
behind Andrew.
	He turned, and saw Marcus walking gracefully towards him from one
of the side rooms.
	"Ah, yes," came the reply from Herbie. "Marcus, this young man was
just looking for you."
	"I know," stated Marcus. He grinned roguishly at Andrew. "I'm glad
you decided to meet me."
	Andrew, lost in the combination of warmth spreading slowly through
his head, and seeing Marcus' perfect form, stood there, not sure what to
say. The black haired youth was wearing faded blue-jean shorts and an open
green silk button up shirt. In the past few days he seemed to gain a bit of
sun, as his pale skin was now perfectly tanned. The incongruity, however,
never registered.
	Marcus stepped up to Andrew and took the blond youth's hands within
his own. Andrew thought he would faint right there. The other's expression
softened as his gaze went down to Andrew's neck. He let go of one of the
blond boy's hands and grasped the silver lily blossom. "You wore it." He
seemed genuinely pleased, which made Andrew feel pleased as well.
	"Yeah, I liked the way it wore." Andrew actually managed to get
out.
	Before he could say anything, Marcus was kissing him
tenderly. Normally, Andrew would have freaked out being kissed in public
like this, but somehow it just seemed so right.
	When the two finally parted Andrew blushed, seeing that Herbie was
watching them, a satisfied smile on his old Hobbit face. "I, uh. I guess I
should wear it more often."
	Marcus laughed, "I think you should, too."
	There was a loud harrumph from the counter, and both boys turned
towards the older man. "Not to intrude upon young love, and all that, but I
am afraid that I must close up the shop early tonight." There was
mischievous twinkle in the man's eye. "Besides, I think there was somewhere
you were supposed to be?"
	Andrew looked over at Marcus. "I'm sorry, did you have to go
somewhere else. I could meet you again tomorrow if . . ."
	Marcus placed his finger on Andrew's mouth as Herbie gave a
chuckle. "He meant the two of us."
	Andrew gave a silent "Oh" of understanding.
	"Go on, you two." He smiled and shooed them away. "Be good, even if
you don't behave." He caste a wink at Andrew that made the heat rise in his
face.
	Marcus grabbed Andrew's arm and began to led him towards the front
door. "See ya, Herbie," he called over his shoulders.
	As he was moving towards the door, Andrew looked over at the
wall. "Yep, glowing blue mushrooms."
	"What?" The door closed on the question.

May 22nd, 2002 10:35 p.m.  Somewhere on the beach at Fort Funston

	After leaving the headshop, the two youths took off in a well used
blue sunbird convertible, which Marcus assured Andrew was not his, but
Herbie was gracious enough to loan out for tonight. They headed down
Highway 35 with the top down, enjoying the bright, blue-white glow of the
moon over the city, and the warm seaside air.
	Pulling off onto a parking area, they walked the pale, moonlit
sandy paths down to the beach front. There were a few others walking the
beach, but the further towards the south they walked, the more isolated it
was. They joked around, casually discussing things going in their lives,
although Andrew noticed that Marcus was a bit vague about many things. He
did discover a little, though.
	No, he didn't go to school around here, he actually had graduated a
couple of years ago from a school back east. Yes, his parents knew about
his sexuality, but he no longer cared to communicate with them. There had
been some kind of argument, and that was that. Herbie was just a friend,
and occasional employer. And no, he was not a perv, he was just very
accepting of people and liked to make others feel welcome.
	They tromped through sandy trails and mountains of German Ivy. The
seaside breeze was cool and tinged with the pungent scent of eucalyptus and
willows. "Are you sure you know where we're going?" Andrew asked
half-jokingly.
	Marcus turned and smiled, his features lit completely by moon
light. "Trust me; it's just a little further."
	"Well, when you say it like that," Andrew smiled back, drinking in
the moment.
	They walked down a small hill and turned off the main
path. Suddenly, they were in shadow as they passed through a tunnel formed
of willows. The yellow-green leaves made whispering noises as the breeze
stirred their evening rest. What little moonlight managed to find its way
through the branches lit the leaves up as though they were made of
silver. Andrew looked around in quiet awe at the beauty of it.
	"He we are," Marcus whispered. He swept aside some low hanging
branches, revealing a scene out of a dream.
	Andrew stepped past him, wonder filling his soul. Beyond the wooden
tunnel was a small clearing drenched completely in moonlight. The sand
glowed silver in the pale light, as did various arrangements of flowering
heathers and lilies. He moved to the center, where a dark blanket
laid. Next to it was a silver and black tree stump where a fragrant white
lily rested. Curiously, he picked the bloom up, and gave a startled cry as
a cloud of white and blue butterflies swarmed up from the stump. The air
was filled with their delicate forms, swirling up into the night sky.
	Andrew stared up and around at the scene.  No words could describe
what he was feeling. He felt Marcus wrap his arms around him, and
whispering into his ear. "Do you like it?"
	"It's beautiful," Andrew stated quietly.
	"This is what I see in you, Andrew." His mouth was only inches from
the other's ear. "This is what you are to me."
	Andrew could feel his eyes starting to burn. "How . . ." His voice
drifted on the breeze. He turned towards Marcus, fixing the dark haired
youth's blue eyes with his own. "You don't even know me."
	There was something sad in Marcus' smile as he reached out to cup
Andrew's face in a slender hand. "I know more about you than anyone else,
Andrew. And yet, I know next to nothing."
	Andrew laughed quietly. "You're not making sense now."
	Marcus shook his head and grinned. "Not everything does. Sometimes,
you just have to feel to know."
	His face was close enough that they could almost kiss. Maybe it was
the fantastical nature of the scene, or the scent of the flowers and plants
that filled the clearing messing with his reasoning, but Andrew leaned
forward and gently kissed Marcus.
	The next thing Andrew felt was Marcus' hands squeezing him firmly,
like the he never wanted to let go. They pulled apart, and Andrew notice
that sometime during his preoccupation with the sights around him, Marcus
had lit several candles. Set in frosted, white globes, they added their own
pale light to the moon's. But before he could say anything else, Marcus was
kissing him back.
	Marcus gently guided Andrew to the blanket, laying him down upon
it. He knelt beside him, then leaned over and gently touched his fingers to
the blond youths face. Smiling gently, he laid down on top of Andrew, and
kissed him. It started gently, tenderly, and then slowly built to where the
two were intertwined and rolling across the blanket.
	They came to a stop, Andrew on top. He pulled his tee shirt over
his head and tossed it to the side, as Marcus slipped his arms out of the
sleeves of his own shirt. Marcus looked up at Andrew's hairless, pale
chest, the light casting deep shadows which emphasized the other's
developing musculature. He reached up with a hand and traced the lines
across Andrew's stomach, then sat up, grabbing the youth in his arms.
	Andrew gasped as Marcus began to kiss his way across his chest,
then down his stomach. He took his own hands and grabbed Marcus' hair,
slowly running his fingers through it, resisting the urge to cry out. The
touch of the other boy's mouth was like fire, burning a path across his
body. He grabbed Marcus' chin, and lifted it up to his face. Their mouths
met, opened, and they began to explore with their tongues.
	The next thing he knew, Andrew was standing with Marcus. Their
shorts were gone, leaving them standing nude in the pale light. He could
feel Marcus' hard cock rubbing against his own. Marcus began to kiss and
nibble his way down Andrew's neck, sending a chill through his back and
head. With his hands, Andrew grabbed the other's ass, losing himself in the
sensations. The two began to grind their hips together, and Andrew started
to kiss on Marcus' neck as well.
	Then, the dark headed youth slowly slid his way down Andrew,
kissing and feeling everywhere he could as he did. He stopped at Andrew's
crotch, closed his eyes, and began to lovingly lick along the boy's rigid
prick. Andrew cried out at the new sensation, lurching to his tip-toes. His
head felt warm and fuzzy with the pleasure as Marcus proceeded to lick and
taste his cock. He knew that had Marcus not been holding on to his ass and
back he would have fallen over.
	Andrew felt himself reaching the edge of orgasm, when Marcus
backed. Marcus glanced up at him, smiling as his tongue began to slide its
way across Andrew's ball sack. Then, gently, he sucked one ball in, then
the other. Andrew shivered with the sensation, and his legs threatened to
collapse beneath him.
	Marcus ended his ministrations, stood before Andrew, and then led
him over to the blanket again. Laying Andrew down, he kneeled between the
blond's legs and leaned over him. Once again he kissed Andrew deeply, and
then looked within the other's bright green eyes.
	"There is so much I want to show you, Andrew," he whispered. "There
are so many sensations that I want to share."
	"This is good," Andrew said breathlessly.
	Marcus smiled, "It is, but this is just the surface." He placed his
hands firmly on Andrew's bare hips, and then pulled the other into his
lap. Andrew laid there gazing up at Marcus.
	Andrew's pulse quickened when he felt Marcus' cock between his
buttocks. He wrapped his legs around the other's hips and began to slowly
slide back and forth across Marcus's hard member. Marcus sighed then began
to hump back, reveling in the feeling. He leaned forward and pulled Andrew
up into his arms, the two kissing deeply.
	 "Andrew," Marcus sighed.  "Please, let me share myself fully with
you."
	"I want you more than anything, Marcus." Andrew didn't know what to
expect, but he didn't care either. He just knew that Marcus was everything
at that moment.
	Marcus began to trail his fingers across Andrew's back, applying
pressure in certain areas. Andrew hissed at the pleasure his touch
evoked. He could feel the adrenaline flooding his system, and the need to
rut with the youth whose lap he sat in. There was a moment of pain, then
warmth, then intense pleasure that clouded his head. He could feel Marcus
biting along his neck and ear, his breathing heavy and strong. It was then
he realized that Marcus had entered him, and was slowly, firmly fucking his
ass.
	The pleasure was overwhelming, and each thrust sent a ripple of joy
throughout his body. A small voice in the back of his head wondered about
the fact that it had been so easy, and why Marcus had not needed
lubrication of any kind. But the thought was buried beneath the waves of
ecstasy that having Marcus in him was creating.
	Then, Marcus lowered Andrew onto his back, placing the blond's feet
on his shoulders, and continued fucking him slowly. "Let me share with you
the Lakashim," Marcus breathed into Andrew's ear.
	Time seemed to slow around the two. Andrew felt each thrust in
every detail, as though his whole body were alive. His skin burned in
pleasure where he could feel Marcus' skin touching his. Then, his soul
seemed to explode.
	He was drifting through the sky, wrapped in the warm arms of
pleasure. Further and further away from the world he moved, until he was
the entire night sky. The whole world laid beneath him, and his mind filled
with the dreams and passions of the people across the darkened surface. He
was Andrew no longer, but Night itself. He could sense their joy, their
fears, anger, hatred, sorrow and hopes. He was everything they longed for,
dreamed of, and which they feared. His soul exulted with the sensation.
	He was vaguely aware of Marcus, passionately kissing and fucking
him in the sandy moonlit clearing. His senses were so altered that he could
no longer tell what was real or not. At one moment he was darkness, one
half of the world, the next he was Andrew, wrapped within the sweating
embrace of Marcus. At the same time, he was in the lap of Marcus, being
kissed deeply, and yet, Marcus was behind him, biting on his neck. His
distorted senses told him that Marcus was on both sides; however, still
fucking him. It was as if Marcus were in both places at the same time, or
that Andrew's perceptions were blending into one, where all happened at the
same moment.
	He felt his orgasm, delayed for so long, build within his crotch
and his entire body. Somehow, he knew that Marcus was close as well, almost
as if their senses where joined as their bodies were. The two cried out as
one, as both came. Then, Andrew's senses returned to normal.
	Marcus laid beside him, a sheen of sweat causing his whole body to
glow in the moonlight. He tenderly stroked Andrew's highly sensitive skin
and smiled. The two laid there, touching yet not speaking, basking in the
afterglow.
	"That was great!" Andrew laughed tiredly. He was truly exhausted by
the lovemaking, and was fighting the urge to fall asleep. "Is sex really
always like that?"
	Marcus sat up on one arm, his other hand running through Andrew's
sweaty blond locks. "It can be, if you want." He smiled at Andrew, then
leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.
	He thought he heard Marcus whisper "sleep," but didn't give it much
thought as his eyes closed. Soon he was fast asleep, his naked body curled
up with Marcus'.
	Marcus held him closely. A simple rote had helped to open Andrew up
to the world's heartbeat, but sometime during the middle of everything,
Andrew's own Avatar had stirred, struggling awake. He tried to sense for it
now, but found nothing. Soon, he thought.
	Normally, the Code of Ananda forbade the Awakening of others,
stating that it was better to let them Awaken on their own. However, Marcus
knew that this was to happen. The dreams had not been wrong yet, and the
time of their destiny was drawing near. He snuggled closer to Andrew,
attempting to make as much physical contact between them as was
possible. Before long, he too fell asleep beside his long searched for soul
mate.


<Thanks to everyone for their words of encouragement. As always, I look
forward to any positive or constructive feedback. I shall try to get the
next segment out shortly.  ^_^ >