[ better, for the sound of armand’s voice. an up day, after a series of down ones, too often swinging from one extreme to the furthest reaches of the other — but this is a gentler high. ]
I heard Portia’s hosting a special dinner. For Christmas.
[ the kind he’s never partaken in and feels inherently nervous about, despite the fact that every dinner here is more extravagant than anything he knew before. ]
[ Time for Bob to learn it's possible for a five hundred year old vampire to giggle like a teenage girl when he's delighted by his own teasing. He gets softer and quieter at the second part, lowing his voice as well. ]
You haven't been to the right dances. [ A beat of silence that's all but humming with Armand's affection. ] I'm happy to be your first.
[ bob isn’t confident enough to assume he makes armand uniquely happy — but he thinks armand laughs a little more with him, maybe. that the line of tension in his shoulders eases.
and that feels pretty good. ]
You’re my first in a lot of ways.
[ the first person he’s seen with any regularity — that he’s spent more hours sober with than not — who hasn’t tried to hide his existence or swiftly tired of his company. his first date to a wedding, to dinner. the first person to see the whole of who he is now and not balk at his strangeness or the depths of his monstrous power. ]
[ Happy about that. There aren't many firsts left for a vampire half a millennium old. It's nice to experience it like this, to see himself through Bob's eyes -- as rose-tinted as that view might be. ]
I hope I continue to be. I hope that -- that you won't regret any of this.
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[ better, for the sound of armand’s voice. an up day, after a series of down ones, too often swinging from one extreme to the furthest reaches of the other — but this is a gentler high. ]
I heard Portia’s hosting a special dinner. For Christmas.
[ the kind he’s never partaken in and feels inherently nervous about, despite the fact that every dinner here is more extravagant than anything he knew before. ]
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Will you be going?
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I’d like to. I would. [ slow on the wind up, hitting every consonant. ] But only if I can go with you.
[ a beat. ]
Will you be my date?
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And get to see you on my doorstep, blushing, clutching your flowers? How could I possibly refuse? Of course I'll be your date.
[ A pause, then a little softer, more sincere: ]
I'm already looking forward to it.
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[ helpless, flustered by the teasing and armand’s quick agreement. of course, as if bob is an easy thing to want and have. ]
Me too. [ he adjusts the phone, words hushed into the receiver. ] I’ve never asked somebody to the dance before.
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You haven't been to the right dances. [ A beat of silence that's all but humming with Armand's affection. ] I'm happy to be your first.
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and that feels pretty good. ]
You’re my first in a lot of ways.
[ the first person he’s seen with any regularity — that he’s spent more hours sober with than not — who hasn’t tried to hide his existence or swiftly tired of his company. his first date to a wedding, to dinner. the first person to see the whole of who he is now and not balk at his strangeness or the depths of his monstrous power. ]
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[ Happy about that. There aren't many firsts left for a vampire half a millennium old. It's nice to experience it like this, to see himself through Bob's eyes -- as rose-tinted as that view might be. ]
I hope I continue to be. I hope that -- that you won't regret any of this.
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I won’t.
[ perhaps naively, it doesn’t occur to him to ask why armand might think that, only to assure him it seems impossible. ]
Can I see you today?
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Armand takes a shallow breath he doesn't actually need, settling the smile back into his voice. ]
Yes. Would you like to go bowling?
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[ amused, as always, by armand’s interests and quirks. ]
It’s a date.