Part Seven: An Impromptu Tête à tê
Lacroix was just as confused as his would-be prey, but working under considerably less moral restraint. That weird spark of electricity had hurt! Okay, it had not truly injured him---but that was not the point! This diminuative escapee from a costume shop---who silly hat hardly reached the heighth of his lapels---had dared to strike him. Roaring, he bared his fangs, readying to attack.
Immediatelly, two things happened, to make him hesitate:
The staff ornament was aimed at the vampire's chest, its owner bracing itself as if expecting the recoil from a blast of some sort.
Strands of long, antique-gold hair were shoved aside as pointed animal-ears unflattened and swiveled forward like an alarmed doe's.
Swiveled?
Swiveled!
What by Zeus' name?!
Then the staff was lowered lowered again as the--'child's'?--eyes widened, intent on something past the Roman's shoulder,
"NO, LACROIX!---don't touch him!"
The ancient didn't even glance back as the younger vampire came barreling down the stairs still clad in his silk pajamas, one hand clutching a robe as he looked on the confrontation with rising alarm.
"Oh, I plan on doing much more than mere touching," Lacroix hissed. "Stay out of this, Nicholas!"
Predictably, his son ignored his elder's warning and moved to stand protectively in front of his guest, eyes golden and fangs lowered in warning.
"Leave him alone, Lacroix! Wizardmon is my guest and welcome to stay for as long as he wants---which is more than can be said of you."
"Ah..so now its freaks as well as humans before family, is it?" Lacroix snorted derisivously. "Wizardmon. What sort of name is that?" He traded glares with the digimon before gracefully sliding into one of Nick''s leather chairs as if the loft was his own domicile and nothing ontoward had happened--when in fact he was utterly taken aback. Languidly gesturing at the bareheaded and unmasked digimon, he stalled for time to recover his inward composure by asking, "Whatever is it you've gotten yourself involved in now, Nicholas?"
Nick glowered, not at all deceived by the other's change in manner. Like himself, his sire could move faster than the human eye could see and be at the digimon's throat before Wizardmon could blink. His guest did not know what he was up against and Nicholas wasn't about to let his guard down. "It's not your concern. And don't you have a radio show to prepare for, NightCrawler?" Nicholas asked, using Lacroix's performing name. "If you leave now you'll just make it."
Still smiling, Lacroix clicked his tongue. "Recording tape. A wonderful invention---I'm sure you've heard of it. Unlike you, mon fils, I plan my strategies in advance. A pity as I'd rather hoped back when I brought you across that I'd also be gaining a good chess partner. Instead, I seemed to have acquired only another piece of the game: a black knight who futily tries to turn himself white."
"How disappointed you must be in me," Nicholas snidely scoffed. "But what activities and hobbies I choose to interest myself in are not your concern." (Damn. Why did his sire have to show up now? Oh, sh**---the fight! He was here to continue yesterevening's fight.)
"Well, you do have your good points," the ancient rather backhandidly praised his son before continuing with: "As for the rest... I'm your father. That makes your..hobbies..my concern!"
"I'm not some fledgling you have to monitor! Stay out of my affairs!"
"Perhaps if you start acting like one should with your centuries, I wouldn't need to step in! This predisposition of yours towards ones not of your own kind...Dogs, humans, this..this...whatever it is---" Lacroix waved a hand in the digimon's general direction. "Really, Nicholas! Your choice of company is too dangerous! I've warned you and warn--"
"Warned?!" De Brabant spat. "Warned? You forced me to destroy Raliegh. You've killed or threatened nearly every human I've tried to--"
"Nearly?" Lacroix put a finger to his lips as he mockingly pretended to search his memory. "I seem to recall you did your own share of slaughter... But who had I missed other that your most recent--"
"Bastard!" Nicholas' formerly blue eyes went from amber to blood red with anger. "If you'd only quit trying to manipulate everything!"
His sire responded with his own ruby stare. "Watch your tongue, mon fils!"
"I can't believe how stupid I was to foreswear Heaven to be with you." Nicholas began to pace in a tight circle, gesturing in his agitation. "You promised me a thousand lifetimes---and you won't allow me to live one of them! This isn't eternal life! It's a.. a goddamn, everlasting, Punch and Judy play! And NOW you're trying to kill Wizardmon just like everyone else who mattered to me!"
"I made you, not these others. You are my creation! My son!"
"And such a loving father you make to!"
Almost forgotten as the two vampire's tempers flared to wildfire levels, a stunned Wizardmon eased himself into the remaining chair.
Father? he thought in surprise. Wasn't that the word the human Digi-Destined had called the larger humans that Myotismon had held hostage in order to flush out the eighth Destined child?' Yes, 'mothers' and 'fathers', 'sisters' and 'brothers'---kidnapped enmass in order to have Gatomon point out her preordained partner. TK and Izzy, those of the Destined children who had fished him out of the river Myotismon's bats had left him to drown in, had been very upset about the kidnappings. Such relationships were considered extra special. At least, that was what he had understood from the short time he had been with the two young humans.
But his new friend, Nick, did not seem to hold this one in high regard. Quite the opposite in fact. Wizardmon could feel the fear within his friend. Nick was terribly afraid of the other. Anger rose inside the wizard's heart. Nick should not have to fear anything! And yet... there was more to this than fear. Especially for that split moment when he'd first felt his host's presence come into the room. It was that secondary, background feeling emanating from Nicholas which had made him abort his own 'attack': behind the anger, bloomed respect and need.
Probably just as well, the Data decided, for with the shaping of that thunder ball his defensive abilities had been reduced to mere bluffing. Gravity was pulling ever increasingly at his body. He hated feeling so heavy.
Now, there was an uneasy thought---being so vulnerable when another might need his assistance, so Wizardmon turned his mind to puzzling out the problem before him.
Could it be... all humans, tended to act like Datas? For Datas naturally lived everything in gray, where Virals acted in darkness and the Vaccines in the light. The Real World's children had seemed neither good nor bad, though Kari was remarkable for her lean to the light." Wizardmon smiled, glad that Gatomon had been given such a worthy partner. He wished he'd had a chance to know her better---and to study the 'parents' of the DigiDestined more before Myotismon had acted. Perhaps this neutrality was a universal 'human' trait?
Then what was this Lacroix? The digimon concentrated on the human and got mixed results. Nick's own feelings were jumbled---a twisted knot of needs---, which only served to confuse the digimon more. 'Perhaps I've spent too much time lately in the company of the Virals to properly see the shades of gray?' Wizardmon sighed. Still, this new one definitely held the shadow of darkness around him. He should warn his companion of this fact.
Wizardmon got back onto his feet, using his staff for extra support.
"TK said that parents were good like the Vaccines. You do not act like a Vaccine." the digimon pointed out to Lacroix, startling both vampires---who had been about to start tossing each other about the room. That was when they realized that the alien addresing them was speaking while his mouth remained firmly shut.
Telepathy--or some form of ventriloquism? Nicholas wondered.
"A Vaccine?" Lacroix forced a chuckle as he recovered from his surprise. "I've been called many things over the centuries, Nicholas, but never that. Don't tell me more science fiction slang has been foisted unto the masses' vocabulary. The language is polluted enough." He used his arms to push the younger vampire away as he took a step towards the digimon. At any rate, it is your friend's pedigree that needs addressing and not mine."
"Science fic..shun slang?" the green eyes blinked in puzzlement, risking a look towards Nicholas for clarification. Was this 'Lacroix' casting a spell of some sort? He gripped his staff harder, preparing to retaliate in kind---um...bluff it, anyway.
Their host was back between the two before either could do anything. "His home is.." Nick awkwardly tried to explain. "Wizardmon is a..foreigner."
"Obviously," his sire dryly replied. "But from where, exactly?"
"Uh... Asia."
Slanted, jade-colored eyes regarded the elder right back as the vampire gazed critically at the inhuman and highly mobile ears.
Lacroix fixed his son with a look that said what he'd always thought of Nick's ability at fabrication---and that it had taken a serious turn even further south.
"If he is of asian descent, then I am Yoda's nephew. Or are you implying he is some runt of the fictional Yeti." Lacroix quipped in amused disgust. "I think it's plain your 'friend', Nicholas, is not from anywhere documented by the National Geographic Society." He lifted a regal eyebrow, daring his son to argue.
"Yeah... " Nick gave in with a fatallistc shrug. There didn't seem any point not to. Anyhow, Lacroix had a knack for finding out all his secrets eventually. "Well, he just sort of... fell on me."
"Fell on you?"
"From the sky," De Brabant elaborated by pointing a finger ceilingward. "He says he's a digital monster of some sort from someplace called Digital World. Maybe its another planet. Maybe another universe." He blushed. God, but that sounded ridiculous even to his own ears! "Oh, hell, Lacriox, for all I know its part of Disney Word and he's an animatronic that's gone amok."
"Animatronics do not have heartbeats."
"I know that!" He rubbed his forehead, feeling fatigued. Confronting his father always left him feeling exhausted. "What's important is that he was hurt, so I brought him here."
"Of course."
The ancient's responses were weighted with sarcasm to which his son responded by balling his fists.
"It's the truth! And what should I have done?!"---the knight growled in irritation at his maker---"Leave him for a human to find?"
No, Lacroix silently agreed as he again looked the alien up and down: inhuman skin color, smallish nose, those ears. And that mouth! If the mortals saw this, they might start taking notice of other strange things within their midst. Like people who shunned the daylight and never ate anything solid---and never seemed to age. No, Nicholas had done the right thing in keeping this creature out of the public's eye. The question was, what should be done with it now?
Extermination would be best; followed by cremation of the remains. Safer for the vampire Community. But somehow, he doubted Nicholas would see it that way---it was obvious his emotional child had become infatuated with the little monster. This was no longer 19th century Croyden nor was this 'Wizardmon' a dumb animal. Nicholas would fight hard for its existence; not cave in as he had been manipulated to with that annoying beast, Raleigh. Nor could Lacroix force that caving in again by turning the alien into a carouche as---unlike the dog---this 'wizardmon' was as yet an unknown property and unpreditable piece in the game.
Was its blood even palatable?
Lacroix hated the unpredictable. They were dangerous elements, best avoided, yet Nicholas always turned a blind eye to such facts once his heart inevitably became involved. But he could still press his point without becoming the direct target of his son's ire.
"As fascinating as having an alien to converse with would be, the Enforcers will not allow this, Nicholas. You know that. They will demand your new pet's destruction."
"Wizardmon is not a 'pet'. And nothing will happen. Not if they don't find out."
Lacroix merely continued to stare at him until his offspring fairly exploded in exasperation:
"I'll think of something!"
"Undoubtedly. But will it be something effective," Lacroix dryly returned, moving into position. "If it comes down between your well being or this.. digital monster's, Nicholas, you know what action I will take. And if you truly mean to fight for the creature, I would suggest that you switch your brand of food to something more wholesome. Animal blood is for carouches---not worthy fare for the elite. Not for us. I shall have Janette send you a case of the Raven's special reserve."
And within the blink of an eye, the elder was gone from the loft.
Lacroix was just as confused as his would-be prey, but working under considerably less moral restraint. That weird spark of electricity had hurt! Okay, it had not truly injured him---but that was not the point! This diminuative escapee from a costume shop---who silly hat hardly reached the heighth of his lapels---had dared to strike him. Roaring, he bared his fangs, readying to attack.
Immediatelly, two things happened, to make him hesitate:
The staff ornament was aimed at the vampire's chest, its owner bracing itself as if expecting the recoil from a blast of some sort.
Strands of long, antique-gold hair were shoved aside as pointed animal-ears unflattened and swiveled forward like an alarmed doe's.
Swiveled?
Swiveled!
What by Zeus' name?!
Then the staff was lowered lowered again as the--'child's'?--eyes widened, intent on something past the Roman's shoulder,
"NO, LACROIX!---don't touch him!"
The ancient didn't even glance back as the younger vampire came barreling down the stairs still clad in his silk pajamas, one hand clutching a robe as he looked on the confrontation with rising alarm.
"Oh, I plan on doing much more than mere touching," Lacroix hissed. "Stay out of this, Nicholas!"
Predictably, his son ignored his elder's warning and moved to stand protectively in front of his guest, eyes golden and fangs lowered in warning.
"Leave him alone, Lacroix! Wizardmon is my guest and welcome to stay for as long as he wants---which is more than can be said of you."
"Ah..so now its freaks as well as humans before family, is it?" Lacroix snorted derisivously. "Wizardmon. What sort of name is that?" He traded glares with the digimon before gracefully sliding into one of Nick''s leather chairs as if the loft was his own domicile and nothing ontoward had happened--when in fact he was utterly taken aback. Languidly gesturing at the bareheaded and unmasked digimon, he stalled for time to recover his inward composure by asking, "Whatever is it you've gotten yourself involved in now, Nicholas?"
Nick glowered, not at all deceived by the other's change in manner. Like himself, his sire could move faster than the human eye could see and be at the digimon's throat before Wizardmon could blink. His guest did not know what he was up against and Nicholas wasn't about to let his guard down. "It's not your concern. And don't you have a radio show to prepare for, NightCrawler?" Nicholas asked, using Lacroix's performing name. "If you leave now you'll just make it."
Still smiling, Lacroix clicked his tongue. "Recording tape. A wonderful invention---I'm sure you've heard of it. Unlike you, mon fils, I plan my strategies in advance. A pity as I'd rather hoped back when I brought you across that I'd also be gaining a good chess partner. Instead, I seemed to have acquired only another piece of the game: a black knight who futily tries to turn himself white."
"How disappointed you must be in me," Nicholas snidely scoffed. "But what activities and hobbies I choose to interest myself in are not your concern." (Damn. Why did his sire have to show up now? Oh, sh**---the fight! He was here to continue yesterevening's fight.)
"Well, you do have your good points," the ancient rather backhandidly praised his son before continuing with: "As for the rest... I'm your father. That makes your..hobbies..my concern!"
"I'm not some fledgling you have to monitor! Stay out of my affairs!"
"Perhaps if you start acting like one should with your centuries, I wouldn't need to step in! This predisposition of yours towards ones not of your own kind...Dogs, humans, this..this...whatever it is---" Lacroix waved a hand in the digimon's general direction. "Really, Nicholas! Your choice of company is too dangerous! I've warned you and warn--"
"Warned?!" De Brabant spat. "Warned? You forced me to destroy Raliegh. You've killed or threatened nearly every human I've tried to--"
"Nearly?" Lacroix put a finger to his lips as he mockingly pretended to search his memory. "I seem to recall you did your own share of slaughter... But who had I missed other that your most recent--"
"Bastard!" Nicholas' formerly blue eyes went from amber to blood red with anger. "If you'd only quit trying to manipulate everything!"
His sire responded with his own ruby stare. "Watch your tongue, mon fils!"
"I can't believe how stupid I was to foreswear Heaven to be with you." Nicholas began to pace in a tight circle, gesturing in his agitation. "You promised me a thousand lifetimes---and you won't allow me to live one of them! This isn't eternal life! It's a.. a goddamn, everlasting, Punch and Judy play! And NOW you're trying to kill Wizardmon just like everyone else who mattered to me!"
"I made you, not these others. You are my creation! My son!"
"And such a loving father you make to!"
Almost forgotten as the two vampire's tempers flared to wildfire levels, a stunned Wizardmon eased himself into the remaining chair.
Father? he thought in surprise. Wasn't that the word the human Digi-Destined had called the larger humans that Myotismon had held hostage in order to flush out the eighth Destined child?' Yes, 'mothers' and 'fathers', 'sisters' and 'brothers'---kidnapped enmass in order to have Gatomon point out her preordained partner. TK and Izzy, those of the Destined children who had fished him out of the river Myotismon's bats had left him to drown in, had been very upset about the kidnappings. Such relationships were considered extra special. At least, that was what he had understood from the short time he had been with the two young humans.
But his new friend, Nick, did not seem to hold this one in high regard. Quite the opposite in fact. Wizardmon could feel the fear within his friend. Nick was terribly afraid of the other. Anger rose inside the wizard's heart. Nick should not have to fear anything! And yet... there was more to this than fear. Especially for that split moment when he'd first felt his host's presence come into the room. It was that secondary, background feeling emanating from Nicholas which had made him abort his own 'attack': behind the anger, bloomed respect and need.
Probably just as well, the Data decided, for with the shaping of that thunder ball his defensive abilities had been reduced to mere bluffing. Gravity was pulling ever increasingly at his body. He hated feeling so heavy.
Now, there was an uneasy thought---being so vulnerable when another might need his assistance, so Wizardmon turned his mind to puzzling out the problem before him.
Could it be... all humans, tended to act like Datas? For Datas naturally lived everything in gray, where Virals acted in darkness and the Vaccines in the light. The Real World's children had seemed neither good nor bad, though Kari was remarkable for her lean to the light." Wizardmon smiled, glad that Gatomon had been given such a worthy partner. He wished he'd had a chance to know her better---and to study the 'parents' of the DigiDestined more before Myotismon had acted. Perhaps this neutrality was a universal 'human' trait?
Then what was this Lacroix? The digimon concentrated on the human and got mixed results. Nick's own feelings were jumbled---a twisted knot of needs---, which only served to confuse the digimon more. 'Perhaps I've spent too much time lately in the company of the Virals to properly see the shades of gray?' Wizardmon sighed. Still, this new one definitely held the shadow of darkness around him. He should warn his companion of this fact.
Wizardmon got back onto his feet, using his staff for extra support.
"TK said that parents were good like the Vaccines. You do not act like a Vaccine." the digimon pointed out to Lacroix, startling both vampires---who had been about to start tossing each other about the room. That was when they realized that the alien addresing them was speaking while his mouth remained firmly shut.
Telepathy--or some form of ventriloquism? Nicholas wondered.
"A Vaccine?" Lacroix forced a chuckle as he recovered from his surprise. "I've been called many things over the centuries, Nicholas, but never that. Don't tell me more science fiction slang has been foisted unto the masses' vocabulary. The language is polluted enough." He used his arms to push the younger vampire away as he took a step towards the digimon. At any rate, it is your friend's pedigree that needs addressing and not mine."
"Science fic..shun slang?" the green eyes blinked in puzzlement, risking a look towards Nicholas for clarification. Was this 'Lacroix' casting a spell of some sort? He gripped his staff harder, preparing to retaliate in kind---um...bluff it, anyway.
Their host was back between the two before either could do anything. "His home is.." Nick awkwardly tried to explain. "Wizardmon is a..foreigner."
"Obviously," his sire dryly replied. "But from where, exactly?"
"Uh... Asia."
Slanted, jade-colored eyes regarded the elder right back as the vampire gazed critically at the inhuman and highly mobile ears.
Lacroix fixed his son with a look that said what he'd always thought of Nick's ability at fabrication---and that it had taken a serious turn even further south.
"If he is of asian descent, then I am Yoda's nephew. Or are you implying he is some runt of the fictional Yeti." Lacroix quipped in amused disgust. "I think it's plain your 'friend', Nicholas, is not from anywhere documented by the National Geographic Society." He lifted a regal eyebrow, daring his son to argue.
"Yeah... " Nick gave in with a fatallistc shrug. There didn't seem any point not to. Anyhow, Lacroix had a knack for finding out all his secrets eventually. "Well, he just sort of... fell on me."
"Fell on you?"
"From the sky," De Brabant elaborated by pointing a finger ceilingward. "He says he's a digital monster of some sort from someplace called Digital World. Maybe its another planet. Maybe another universe." He blushed. God, but that sounded ridiculous even to his own ears! "Oh, hell, Lacriox, for all I know its part of Disney Word and he's an animatronic that's gone amok."
"Animatronics do not have heartbeats."
"I know that!" He rubbed his forehead, feeling fatigued. Confronting his father always left him feeling exhausted. "What's important is that he was hurt, so I brought him here."
"Of course."
The ancient's responses were weighted with sarcasm to which his son responded by balling his fists.
"It's the truth! And what should I have done?!"---the knight growled in irritation at his maker---"Leave him for a human to find?"
No, Lacroix silently agreed as he again looked the alien up and down: inhuman skin color, smallish nose, those ears. And that mouth! If the mortals saw this, they might start taking notice of other strange things within their midst. Like people who shunned the daylight and never ate anything solid---and never seemed to age. No, Nicholas had done the right thing in keeping this creature out of the public's eye. The question was, what should be done with it now?
Extermination would be best; followed by cremation of the remains. Safer for the vampire Community. But somehow, he doubted Nicholas would see it that way---it was obvious his emotional child had become infatuated with the little monster. This was no longer 19th century Croyden nor was this 'Wizardmon' a dumb animal. Nicholas would fight hard for its existence; not cave in as he had been manipulated to with that annoying beast, Raleigh. Nor could Lacroix force that caving in again by turning the alien into a carouche as---unlike the dog---this 'wizardmon' was as yet an unknown property and unpreditable piece in the game.
Was its blood even palatable?
Lacroix hated the unpredictable. They were dangerous elements, best avoided, yet Nicholas always turned a blind eye to such facts once his heart inevitably became involved. But he could still press his point without becoming the direct target of his son's ire.
"As fascinating as having an alien to converse with would be, the Enforcers will not allow this, Nicholas. You know that. They will demand your new pet's destruction."
"Wizardmon is not a 'pet'. And nothing will happen. Not if they don't find out."
Lacroix merely continued to stare at him until his offspring fairly exploded in exasperation:
"I'll think of something!"
"Undoubtedly. But will it be something effective," Lacroix dryly returned, moving into position. "If it comes down between your well being or this.. digital monster's, Nicholas, you know what action I will take. And if you truly mean to fight for the creature, I would suggest that you switch your brand of food to something more wholesome. Animal blood is for carouches---not worthy fare for the elite. Not for us. I shall have Janette send you a case of the Raven's special reserve."
And within the blink of an eye, the elder was gone from the loft.