AN: My muses and I have a love-hate relationship. Sugar doesn't help much. Thus was born this.

Thank you, Sandra-imouto, for bearing with my insanity; and thank you, Rosemarie, for your criticism and encouragement.

Another's Story

It amazes me to think how relief and sadness are so intricately entwined sometimes. It's amazing how they can change one's outlook on everything. But perhaps most amazing is what they can make someone do. Particularly for love.

When she had finished her plea he felt his life leaving as quickly as she was. He was falling fast, his mind was blank, and all he could do was agree to the painful something she had asked of him.

For that he would be glad that he was not aware.

Her labored breathing hurt him as much as it must've hurt her. She was no longer looking at this world, he could tell that much. Her eyes were seeing something else. He was jealous of it, whatever it was — he wanted to be the only thing, the only person she saw. Especially then.

Especially then.

The warmth was leaving her. He felt that when he kissed her. He tried to control his own breathing. He licked his dry lips. He tasted her blood that was on them.

And then he saw something only he could see.

The blood — the blood! Why had he not thought of it before? Of course, of course, he could not have thought at all. He was too busy feeling. That was why someone once told him to keep emotions at bay. But he, with his bohemian soul, could not understand that. He was glad he hadn't, too, for if he had, so much would have happened and so much wouldn't have been.

The blood. There was one way she could be saved. But he would not force her. It could be a blessing or a burden. He had to act quickly, lest he lose her before he had the chance to ask! She was already seeing death!

"Satine," he whispered urgently. "Listen — would you be willing to live eternally here, on this earth?"

"I…" She took a wheezy breath, eyes unfocused. "…yes. If… with you, yes…"

"Forever, truly forever?"

"Yes…"

"Knowing —" he sniffled, trying to be fast and say everything "— that others will die, and you and I will live?"

She could only nod.

With care and swiftness he stood, taking her with him. He left to a more secluded place behind the stage. None followed, having a deep sense of respect for the privacy of the writer and the performer.

He lay her to rest on a makeshift bed of used costumes in a room backstage. He stared at her eyes, lifting her head so she could see him. Only when their gazes locked did he lean forward and, with cuspids of normal size but of abnormal sharpness, bite his beloved's neck.

She cried out; her eyes closed, her shivering ceased. Her breathing was now as of a dreamer's — soft and rhythmic.

He searched the room with his eyes for anything sharp with which to cut himself. A knife, a pair of scissors, a loose earring. He was frantic, desperate — he'd never done this before, so he did not know if there was a time limit. Finding nothing he resorted to his teeth. He bit the heel of his hand as hard as he could; he put it to Satine's mouth so the blood drip down her throat.

Long seconds went past them, and when it seemed she would never wake, she gave a cough and opened her eyes. They met Christian's. The lovers smiled in the ecstasy of relief.

She would live. He would not die.

Perhaps love does conquer all.

AN: And because I am weak of heart, this will go on. With no ending in sight. Not much of anything in sight, really. x_o; Just lots of drama, chunks of angst, bits of romance, and a LOT of flowery language. And I mean that.

Glove-Puppet 2004-02-26 . chapter 1 I really liked this. Never before had the thought of crossing Moulin Rouge with vampires crossed my mind. It would have been an exciting twist to the movie, though, don't you think? Please do continue. I love your imagery. [report review for abuse] Rosemarie 2003-12-19 . chapter 1 Gata, this makes me a thousand shades of happy!! You've improved this completely! You've kept the sense of his desperation while making the whole thing more--eh, plausible? (I know, I know, it's vampires we're talking about!) I LOVE the fact that he is uncertain as to what to do--or rather, he knows what he's supposed to do but is not sure how to do it. The awkardness is SO completely Christian. //A knife, a pair of scissors, a loose earring...// HA! //He'd never done this before, so he did not know if there was a time limit.// It conveys the sense that he really is totally on his own in terms of trying to understand his own powers. And you've managed to interweave the desperation with a soft poetry, particularly concerning Satine: //Her breathing was now as a dreamer's, soft and rhythmic.// That sentence belongs in my "damn I wish I'd written that!" file. //It amazes me to think how relief and sadness are so intricately intwined sometimes// That entire first short paragraph is a particularly gorgous beginning with which you subtly pull the reader in, and a good beginning is every bit as important as a good ending. I did wonder who the "me" in the sentence was, who is speaking/thinking this, especially since it's the only thing in first person POV. Not a flaw, by the way; it just made me wonder who's voice we're hearing (though I assume Christian.) And the problem we spoke of re: Christian biting her in front of everyone--you've solved it perfectly and delightfully, in swifter strokes than I could have ever managed. "a make-shift bed of used costumes" is great, very evocative, and it reminds us that this is a theater, after all, and even a quiet room would be jumbled and chaotic. //None followed, having a deep sense of respect for the privacy...// Perfectly true to the film, where everyone (until Nini spoke up) kept their mouths shut about their affair. You've managed to be true to the source material and yet strikingly original. (Cannot wait for chapter two, now!) Thank you very much for the dedication, dear, but the talent is entirely yours! --Janice [report review for abuse] Rosemarie again 2003-12-16 . chapter 1 Just re-read, and I perhaps didn't give you enough credit for how well this is written the first time. I particularly love the whole paragraph that includes //She was no longer looking at this world, he could tell that much...// to the end of the paragraph. Beautifully conveys the sense/feeling that she is fading into cold death. It also conveys, skillfully, his panic; as well as being a higly original way to weave in the concept of his "jealousy" (which can become very tired and cliche in lesser hands.) I do stand by my original statements; and would like to add one more--(forgive me). In "Christian's Patron" (and I believe the Anne Rice books, though her lawyers have forbidden any fanfics), vampirization is a two-step process: first, draining/sucking most of the victim's blood until the point of near-death (which she's at already, isn't she); second, feeding the victim on vampire blood to complete the transformation. I don't know what the process was in the old movies/Bram Stoker novel, etc. but it makes sense that a two-way exchange would be necessary. (Ok, I know, this is fiction, we can do whatever we want. Forgive me.) You indicated in your email to me an intention to change some things here. Please do, and expand upon it! this is turning out beautifully, and i can envision multiple chapters. [report review for abuse] Tani 2003-12-16 . chapter 1 Oh Christian is a Vampire o sexy... I mean scary! -cough cough- good story it's realy truly good [report review for abuse] The most honorable villian Captain Hook 2003-12-15 . chapter 1 I like the one liners in this one - really set out the feeling and make an impact. I've only ever seen a MR fanfic once so this is a rare thing and it's very good. [report review for abuse] Rosemarie Flowingwater (Janice) 2003-12-15 . chapter 1 MR vampire fic--hooray! (Have you read "Christian's Patron" by Lady Mcclellan?) Although I never would have envisioned Christian as the vampire (we do see him in the daylight during the film, after all, so then I wonder. hmm, did something happen in the interim? there's some 'splaining that needs to be done!) And wouldn't Christian take her backstage, say, to a dressing room, rather than doing it in front of everyone? Part of the whole idea of the vampire is the necessity to remain secretive, lest one be killed. (sort of the same reason gays and lesbians have remained "in the closet" for so long--the fear of being ostracized at best and murdered at worst. But, ahem, I digress.) Though I admire spare and tight prose, I think this could be padded just a touch--one feels as though you are racing through it. But it is an original idea and that is always a good thing, especially in this catgory. And I've toyed with the idea of a vampire fic myself (though focused on Satine), so who knows, I may jump in at some point. On the other hand, this functions perfectly well as-is as a short-short story.