Date: Tue, 26 Mar 1996 19:25:33 -0600 From: Lady Sushi Subject: "LaCroix...?" 1/1 "LaCroix...?" Susan "Just Woke Up" Schaefer (c) 1996, S. Schaefer part one of one Usual disclaimers here "Well, Nicholas, are you wondering why I invited you over here?" Actually, he was. It wasn't often LaCroix left a message on his machine including the word "cheerful". "Actually..." "Good, good. Blood?" LaCroix offered him some red liquid... in a flowered teacup. "Er... no, thanks." "It's cow." Considering that the flowers were making him cringe, "No, LaCroix. Thank you, though." LaCroix shrugged, proceeded to drink the stuff himself. "Ah, that's good. What? Nicholas, you're staring at me. Why?" Nick was actually considering screaming, "Who are you, and what have you done with my master?", but decided against it. "I-- I've never seen you drink cow blood." _Frankly, it's scaring me._ LaCroix smiled at him, actually in a civil way. "Nicholas, why would I drink anything else? You see, I'm a changed vampyre." He took another sip, glanced at Nick. The younger vamp's eyes were about to pop out of his head; he threatened to crush his chair's arms. "I've decided to come out to you." Now Nick was really worried. "Uh, LaCroix, you know I'm straight, don't you?" He just laughed. "Not that kind of coming out, Nicholas. You see... it's very hard to say this, but..." He stood up, grabbed something on top of his head. Slowly Lacroix unzipped his skin, pulling the zipper down his back with a soft buzzing sound. He pulled the limp flesh over his head to reveal shoulder-length blonde hair, perfect makeup, and... "TRACY!!!!!!!" Nick realized he was too terrified to move. "Hi, Nick! Yeah, it's me!" She grinned perkily. "H-- how? When? WHY?" "Oh, Nick, stop being such a ninny. I've ALWAYS been LaCroix. Well, at least until 1963. That was when I had the operation." Nick was pinching himself furiously. "This is a dream. This has got to be a dream." "No, it's not!" "But... but you're my PARTNER!" She grinned. "Bingo! How else do you think I've been keeping track of you?" "But... How do you do your Nightcrawler monologues with me around?" "Oh, that's easy. Pre-recording." Nick checked his watch. Thirty seconds to sunrise. If he hurried... He made a break for it. Tracy/LaCroix called behind him, "Nick! Wait up! We were gonna make s'mores and...!" Nick woke up, breathing hard. Sweat was pouring down his face in rivers. Quickly he grabbed the phone, hit speed dial. Three rings. "Hrrbbbllllttzz... Yah?" "LaCroix? How are you feeling?" "Fine, (yawn) Nicholas. Or at least I was. I had been quite comfortably asleep until you called. Why *did* you call?" "Oh, no reason," Nick muttered sheepishly. "Well, if you're having bad dreams, have a glass of warm blood and go back to sleep." "Oh, thank you, LaCroix. Good day." LaCroix mumbled something unintellgible and hung up. Nick decided to take his advice; no one had taken over his master's body. Everything was all right. LaCroix stumbled back to bed. He stopped in front of a mirror for a second. He squinted. It was one of those days when your skin just feels too tight. Carefully he unzipped himself. Natalie left the latex skin slung over a chair and went to sleep. THE END(?) Comments, delusions, and therapy bills to the address in the sig. Cousin "Susan" Phoenix, Thong Throng phoenix@ionet.net **MSTie Mad Scientist Somewhat-Extraordinaire** *I'd be nothing if not cold.* ~~~Nigel THE VAMPYRE GRILLE: The Secret's In The Sauce!