Love You To Death

Episode Slant

Let's set the stage, shall we...

Nick zones out into first Flashback.

A ballet. The shot centers on the lead figure, a woman, Sylvaine, who personifies beauty and grace. Pan up to Nicholas [decked out in waistcoat] in his balcony seat, enthralled. Janette is seen seated to his left.

J: [not looking at her companion] "We go backstage tonight...?"

N: [he shoots her a panicked look and snaps out, with conviction] "No!"

J: [exasperated eye roll] "Oh, Nicolas...This is getting so...repetitive. It's why you come here every night, isn't it? [more shots of the woman on the stage] To see her..."

N: "I wouldn't darken her doorstep with the stain of my shadow." (WHAT?! --- Who writes this stuff?? I mean I know he's down on his 'nature', but really, even Janette finally turns to look at Mr. Angst at that comment.)

Cut out to present storyline.

Cut back.

The ballet, once more.

LC is with our hormonally impaired puppy now ( ;-[)! ). And the pup is again in his balcony seat, staring at his current mortal female object of fascination.

A deep and oddly breathy and agitated voice from his right starts him from his trance.

LC: (Our Favorite, Voyeuristic, Walking Orgasm practically pants out this whole dialog. You've gotta hear it ;-[)!! Jealous? Nah. These two are never jealous over each others'...interests! Heeheehee) "Poor smitten fool. You are in a fog aren't you? What is this? Our 17th performance? 18th? Do tell me what it is about her that has you so bewitched." (You mean as opposed to why he's not bewitched with YOU? <bg>)

N: [smiling in satisfaction] "Something you wouldn't understand." (Ouch! Nickster, mustn't piss him off so! You should know better...there are always repercussions --- later!!!)

The performance ends to a grand applause.

N: "Purity, absolute purity. She's the closest thing to an angel that I've ever seen."

Cut out.

Current story.

Cut back to a very short Flashback.

Her dressing room. She sits at her make-up table, in front of the mirror, and stretches her neck side to side. Nicholas comes to stand at an entrance and peers in. She sees him and smiles. He just stands and stares. Cut out again, and back.

LaCroix, followed by Blond One, walk down a corridor backstage. LC is still quite upset (Jealous ;-[)!). His frustration and anger is, obviously, barely contained.

LC: "What can you possibly hope to achieve? Gazing at her from afar, night after night. Go in there...Go - In - There and introduce yourself."

N: [pausing in their walk to look at his master] "I would only repulse her. Purity is always repulsed by pure evil." [then turning to face LaCroix directly] (My, my. What a foolish, yet poignant, remark to say to Father. Like he's not going to get the inference. Silly boy, he's pissed enough... you paying all that attention to a 'mortal woman'. You are thick, if you can't see how this is affecting him!)

LC: [a step closer] "Purity is an illusion. What's the allure?

N: [walking on. acting as if in full control of the conversation] "Something perhaps that I regret leaving behind me."

(Should I get into the whole - Heh, Nicky, stupid, don't you get what Dad's saying? If you were so almighty pure he wouldn't have spent {wasted...?} all this time over you. - thing? Duh...I think now is an appropriate time to use the Brick word ;-[)!!)

(Walking Orgasm himself now follows his favorite like the love sick mongrel he's about to accuse the other of being. <g>)

N: "It's affecting, my humanity." [sitting down] (Cocky little brat isn't he? I LOVE it ;-[)! Nick behaves as if it's all some grand self sacrificing gesture! And Uncle...the way he is indulging this beloved creature of his...he must be bored. Or, in love <bg>.)

LC: [small huff of humor, then he gestures with both hands and uses a calm yet insistent tone] "Now look here Nicholas, there are only three choices in this matter: Try to love her as a human, but we all know that is impossible so let's move right along. [slurred together in a frustrated rush of emotion] Continue in this manner, to gaze at her over the balustrade like a love struck mongrel." (Again...who exactly is the 'love struck mongrel ' here, dear Peroxide Headed One ;-[)?) "Which would be a terrific waste of eternity, or...consumate your intense love for her." (Uncle clenches his teeth on that assertion. He hates to speak aloud that The Honey Blond want the girl and not him <bg>!!) "in a most intense way." (LaCroix sounds as if he's getting hard just thinking about it!!! --- Oooo...nasty me....!)

LC pauses and sneers.

LC: "Kill her!"

Nicholas flinches.

LC: [taunting now] "Purity? Purity? Where do you get these notions, Nicholas? [glancing towards the dressing rooms] She is a...dancer. She's an actress playing the part of an angel. In reality...she's a common whore." (I adore the way NB says that: <WHO'ER>.) (Yikes!! Nickkie reacts to that one a bit passionately.)

Throwing himself from his seat, the younger vampire first shoves back his master into the opposing wall, he then angrily grabs his elder's lapels.

N: [drawing close, seething] "How dare you!"

LC: [unfazed] "Go ahead Nicholas, take her when it's your turn."

Nick releases the other man in disgust, and doubt. He then turns and walks away, wringing his hands. LaCroix follows close behind, provoking his child still.

(O-meister rips into his Favorite One real nasty here. Man 'o man, his jealousy is deep. LaCroix is so consumed by it he doesn't know when to quit, I swear!!)

LC: "You might as well...you want her so badly. It is in keeping with your code of the last three centuries...preying on criminals and derelicts. Feeding off the useless and impure."

Nicholas responds by whipping around to strike out at his master. Who flinches back, but neatly catches the arm about to hit him. He then holds it briefly and then casts it easily aside. A minute grin graces his lips.

(Nicky is now the pissed one. As his mentor once again proves his mental and physical superiority over him.)

Cut out.

Present story - Det. Knight is seen veering into oncoming traffic... (...again <bg>!!! He's got to stop Flashbacking and driving;-[)!!)

The following Flashback [Fb]:

(Oooo...and I thought Nicky was pissed at the end of the last Fb............WRONG!!!)

LC: [standing behind Nicholas, speaking slowly and slightly taunting, with a 'matter of fact' tone] "She is...a whore."

(Hormone Honey Boy whips around so fast, he catches The Jealous One completely unaware. [Then again, maybe not ;-[) ?!])

Nicholas, turning quickly and lividly, backhands his master across the jaw so unexpectedly and hard, that he actually knocks him down. Casting LaCroix into the table on his left.

N: [heaving his mentor up and around, to spit out at him face to face] "Don't ever say that again."

LC: [seemingly unaffected by the brutal treatment] "Love has made you stronger." (Uncle appears so pleased <bg>.)

(As I have given in completely to my UF corruption: I can't help but think Peroxide One stopped talking about the dancer a while back. Maybe it's just the Unnamed I see when physical assult and the word 'love' appears when these two have one of their 'little chats'. Kinda like LC and Nicky in Blind Faith's Fb. Only that was a dog not a dancer and a stake not a smite!)

Nicholas, in aggravation, releases his duel-handed hold to LaCroix' jacket lapels. Adding a slight shove.

LC: "You're a simpering fool, Nicholas." (Back to taunting, I see... Nothing like that spontaneous orgasm you got from Blond Hormone belting you, to make you try to provoke him into doing it again! --- Ooooo...Bad Jules, Bad! Such nasty thoughts!! <ebg>!)

Nicholas turns away at the stinging words.

LC: [leaning closer towards his child] "Take Her !"

N: "I have no designs...on her." (All righteous-like.)

LC: "So, you won't even take your place in line?" (Ouch! - That got young loverboy!) "They wait outside her Dressing Room." (Boy, Nicky looks confused now!) "One by one. Sometimes, she even takes two at a time..." (Does LaCroix 'stab and twist' or what?!)

Nicholas glances quickly over his shoulder, in that direction. Then turns back. Facing his companion.

N: "You're a filthy liar!"

LC: "See for yourself." [nodding towards the dressing room door and smirking slightly] (Uncle has Nicky-poo in quite a turmoil...the poor lad doesn't know what to believe.)

Nicholas glances across his right shoulder, to see two gentlemen exit the dancer's room. They tip an acknowledgment as they pass. Nick's expression is one of agape astonishment as he watches them casually stroll past. He takes a few steps in an attempt to follow them. Changing his mind, he halts to hastily turn back and point an accusing finger at LaCroix (Gee, can't imagine why he would think to do that?! <g>)

N: [breathed out and quite upset, to LC] "If they took anything...it was theft." (Blond Boy is not talking about money in her purse here!!! Nice metaphor, I must say.)

Nicholas bolts for the room, entering it unannounced. Startled, Sylvaine looks up from the letter she is reading. She smiles at him broadly, from her seat.

Nick Knight's mind flashes images back and forth between his beloved 'angel' and the present day missing model. He finds he is awakened rudely, in his loft.

Current story bits.

Talking with Janette at the Raven kicks Nick into flash back again: Nicholas walks towards Sylvaine. Still seated, she extends her hand in greeting. Taking it Nicholas bends to bestow a kiss. He stops...

N: "No. [pulling away] Excuse me I don't mean to appear rude it's just that I wanted to make sure that..."[rushing the words all together]

S: [puzzled] "Make sure? Of what?"

N: "That you are unharmed." (Aaaaaah, he's so gallant. <bg>)

S: [unsure of his concern] "I'm fine."

N: "Those two men who were here...?" [his arms linked behind his back]

S: "Yes. -- So many visitors tonight, Nichol..."

N: [interrupting warily] "You know my name." (Nickness looks just a little surprised here.)

S: "...as. (Oops! He didn't know you knew!) Yes, I've seen you here on many nights." (Coy, isn't she?) "I asked about you." (My, how bold for a single woman of the times to inquire about a patron, hmmm...) "Are you in love, with the ballet?" (Nice pause there, she sure comes across as smooth.)

N: [now he smiles]" I love to watch you dance." (Ah, yes, one of those lessons you learned from Daddy, he loves to watch too...;-[)!)

S: "Hmm..."[bowing her head at the compliment]

Nicholas unexpectedly turns quickly to look behind him...

Cut out.

Present Nick ruminating to Janette: (Notice From Jules--- I had problems with the dialog here, so I had to give a bit of an educated guess at the end.)

N: "She recognized me from all of the performances I had been to [smiling deeply]. She recognized me."

J: "You must have been very flattered."

N: "No. [looking down, thinking back] Her compliment went to a deeper place inside me. [pause] For a moment I thought I was worthy. [pause] But it was painful. [pause] I knew it was all an illusion."

Pain etches his face at the recollection of the memories.

Quick blend into flash back.

S: "Don't leave!" [to a standing Nicholas, back to her]

At her plea he turns to face her but will not meet her gaze.

N: "We should never have met, I'm sorry I...I'll never ask to see you again." (More dialog difficulties with that line, sorry.)

S: "Please, [lightly grasping the lapels of his waistcoat] stay!"

Leaning in, Sylvaine kisses Nicholas. For a brief moment he returns the affection, but then turns hastily aside.

N: "No!"

S: "Why?" (Going in for that second taste of Our Blond Hormone. She isn't disappointed...for now...;-[)! --- Neither was Marcia...!!! Heeheehee. Ooops, sorry, couldn't help it <ebg>.)

Once more Nicholas pulls away.

S: "I love you." (Nicky is beyond stunned.)"Yes, Nicholas, l've been watching you, as you've been watching me. Knowing it would come to this, some day." (Nickster is really dumbfounded as his 'angel' pours out her undying love for him... You better watch out babe, you're gonna blow his illusion big time!!)

N: "Don't... Don't love me." (Dripping angst, as usual, BH.) [he shake his head slightly, eyes slit in wariness] "How could you?"

S: "The same way that you do." [doe-eyed and innocent]

N: "It's not possible...it isn't." [turning away]

S: "It is more than possible. It's the truth."

N: [desperately] "How can you be anything but repulsed by me? Puriety cannot tolerate evil." (Nicky dear, suffering from transfer of affection/aggression?! This isn't you and LaCroix you're talking about right now ;-[)!!) "How can it love evil?" (Umm...soul searching here, Blond one?)

Sylvaine blinks in confusion. (Read: <What the hell is he going on about?!> ;-[)!)

N: [suddenly serious and distainfully spoken] "Unless it isn't purity."

S: "No..." [she just honestly wants him]

Leaning in for a kiss again, Nicholas returns the affection. Hungrily he kisses her also, his left hand grasps her cheek and jaw in a passionate hold.

Nicholas breaks away, an internal decision made.

N: [grinning] "Then I will take you."

Sylvaine stands facing Nicholas, in adoration, as he glides her gown smoothly off her shoulders. He gently takes her face in his hands. A low growl emanates from deep within him. He seems to dip in for another kiss, only to abruptly tilt her head to the side. The snarl strengthens as he moves in for the 'taking'. She does not resist, as he strikes and draws rapaciously from her throat. (Uncle would be so proud ;-[)!)

Cut to the Raven, present day. Back to Nick and Janette.

N: [speaking to Janette] "I killed her for betraying my fantasy." (Angst, dear, angst...you do it SO well.)

J: "She was only a human woman, Nick." (YES. -- She says <Nick> there.)

N: "I needed her to be more than that." (Obviously <bg>!) [eyeing away, guiltily] "And in the end I condemned her to less..."

Fast Fb shot of Sylvaine: Drained, prone, with a close-up of her punctured neck.

Zip back. Raven. Nick's cell phone is ringing... It's Natalie with the current story line.

Commercial, etc.

Return to Fb:

Nicholas is kneeling over the dead woman as a door is heard creaking open. He hang his head in shame/pain/anger. He snarls at the intrusion.

LC: "It worked..." [gloating]

The young vampire snaps his head towards the velvet voice.

LaCroix now stands in the room. Behind him are two other men, they are the pair previously seen leaving Sylvaine's room. They bare their fangs.

LC: "...we have our Nicholas back again."

The Blond One rises quickly to grasp his master by his jacket, shoving him back. He is halted in his attack, as he spun around and is stopped short by LaCroix.

Our Unnamed Pair drastically eye each other.

N: "What have you done!"

LC: "We (Read: <I>) wanted you back, Nicholas."

Nicholas gives a fast glance to the corpse.

N: "She was, innocent?!" (He's soooooo klewless...;-[)!)

LC: "She was, in love." (Taunt us with those tasty raised brows, Walking "O"! Oh, and that...smirk ;-[) -- Cream, Cousins, cream!!)

N: "You betrayed me!" [insensed, pushing off LaCroix and returning to the fallen Sylvaine. kneeling by her once more]

LaCroix watches in amusement.

N: [to his creator] "I hate you!!"

LC: Good!...[cold, deep, and deliciously flat in tone] Hate - is a step in the right direction." (Oh, yes ;-[)! How tastily UF. I Slanted this episode on that one alone. They say it's a thin line between love and hate!!! <bg>)

Nicholas lifts the dead form, into a (useless) embrace, he glares at his master. (Read: <This is NOT over Daddy-O!>)

LaCroix sniffs and grins.