Part 21

Josef awoke the next evening to find Mick already wide awake and staring up at the ceiling.

"Sleep well?"

"No" came Mick's monosyllabic reply

"Oh great" thought Josef "He's in one of his moods again"]

"Come on, get up" he said out loud, giving Mick a shove at the same time, "We're going out"

"Where?"

"My my you are in a chipper mood this morning aren't you" he quipped "If you must know I'm taking you to Lestat de Lioncourt's"

Mick suddenly sat bolt upright and stared at Josef in wide eyed amazement

"Ahh, that got you're attention didn't it?" throwing Mick his clothes at the same time "but no it's not THE Lestat de Lioncourt, just a Vampire whose read one too many Anne Rice novels and thinks it's rather quaint to use the name of a fictional character; however, he is one of the best tailors in Paris and you could do with a decent suit...now get up, get showered and get dressed"

"Yes Master" Mick responded cheekily, prompting Josef to lean down and kiss him

"Save that for later" Mick flashed a wide smile in response to Josef's words and Josef couldn't resist teasing him.

"There's that fabulous Mick smile I love so much, I was wondering where you were hiding that"

"Shut up Josef", Mick responded sheepishly.

Mick quickly showered and dressed, followed by Josef who then used the private line in their room to call for a limousine to take them to an address on the Champs Elysees. Arriving at their destination they made their way down a narrow staircase to a dimly lit basement to be greeted by a rather eccentric looking Vampire, no more than 5'4, dressed in full 18th century costume with bleach blond hair tied back with an ostentatious purple satin bow.

"Josef Kostan" he exclaimed merrily, gesturing flamboyantly and leaning in to kiss him on each cheek at the same time "to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit"

"Hello Lestat", Mick had to stifle a giggle, both at the name and the rather camp nature of the strange little Vampire in front of them "my beloved, Mick St John, requires the services of the best tailor in all of Paris" Josef continued, bowing deeply at the same time, enjoying playing along with Lestat's little charade of being an 18th century nobleman; when in actual fact he wasn't that much older than Mick in Vampire years.

Lestat busied himself with taking Mick's measurements, wielding the tape measure as if it was an extension of his own body, jotting down notes in a little black leather note book at the same time.

"You know, Josef" Mick said, looking at Lestat's costumed attire "I would have loved to see you dressed in your 17th century finery"

At that Lestat grinned widely and rushed out the back to rummage through racks of costumes, emerging with a perfect replica of a 17th century nobleman's attire.

"Put it on" Mick said excitedly

"Mick, do you realise how utterly uncomfortable that stuff is to wear"

"Please", he pleaded flashing Josef his best puppy dog eyes "for me"

Josef rolled his eyes in mock reluctance

"Oh Ok Mick, just for you" he smiled and gave Mick a quick kiss on the lips before disappearing into one of the tiny curtained change rooms, emerging a few moments later dressed in a style of clothing that had once formed part of his regular wardrobe. Doing a 36O degree turn and then executing a perfectly extravagant bow, he asked

"Well, is this to your satisfaction? my beloved"

"You look positively Dandy, my sweet" Mick replied, clumsily attempting to return Josef's bow.

Lestat clasped his hands together enthusiastically and declared "Don't you two just make the cutest couple; I hope you shall be blessed with many happy centuries to come"

"So do I", Josef whispered, reaching up to kiss Mick warmly and sincerely.

Noticing Mick's sudden discomfort, Lestat hurriedly changed the subject

"Ok Monsieur's, I have everything I need; the finest suit you will ever wear Mr St John will be ready for you by the following evening"

Josef thanked Lestat and peeled off a large number of Francs to pay him for his services. They then made their way back to the hotel, opting to walk back through the Parisian streets, arm in arm. Along the way a young Skinhead spat on the ground in front of them and yelled the word faggots in French. Josef glared at the boy and allowed a slight snarl to escape from his lips, extending his fangs just enough to let the lad know he was not the sort of person he should be messing with; watching with satisfaction at the look of sheer terror that crossed his face as he turned tail and ran for his life.

"What was that all about" Mick asked as they reached the door of the hotel

"Nothing for you to concern yourself with, my beloved" Josef replied as he lifted Micks hand to his mouth and pressed his lips to it, still enjoying playing, or rather reliving, the role of the dandified 17th century gentleman.

Entering the opulent foyer of the hotel, they were greeted by the site of Coraline descending the large spiral staircase.

"Josef took me shopping for a new suit, made by the finest tailor in Paris" he said excitedly, pointedly adding "you never did anything like that for me, Coraline"

"No, I was too busy teaching you how to survive as a newly turned Vampire, Mick"

At that Mick had the good graces to look down at the ground in embarrassment whilst Josef merely shot a fiery glare at Coraline, who returned the look with an equal amount of fire and hatred.

"Mick, just ignore her and go upstairs and wait for me; I won't be long" he told him, giving him a tender kiss at the same time.

"Why? Where are you going?

"It doesn't matter, I'm going to see a man about a dog colloquially speaking; I won't be long, I promise"

Watching and waiting until Mick had ascended the spiral staircase and he heard the soft click of their hotel room door opening and closing, Josef then turned and walked back out the door of the hotel; making his way swiftly through the myriad laneways of the Parisian streets until he came to a palatial residence built sometime in the 1700's.

Greeted by a servant as he pulled the large bell to summon those inside, he was lead into a large drawing room. The figure seated behind the ornate desk, in the middle of the room, turned around to face him before he his arrival had even been announced.

"Josef Kostan, I'd heard you were in town, it has been a while hasn't it; last I saw of you, you were wandering through Europe quite mad; the result of a little experiment with a certain compound you helped us create"

"Hello Lance" Josef responded, keeping the tone of his voice as even as possible "I believe there are certain matters we need to discuss".