This is a conversation in which Nathan gives Dr. Robert a gift. Someday there will be a lot more written up here about what transpired in Las Vegas, but for now you must be content with these snippets...

If you have questions, please feel free to e-mail Dr. Robert -- he loves explaining things.

Nathan found Robert alone in his room, digging through his closet, throwing things that Nathan would never have worn under any circumstances all over the room. A purple fuzzy fur jacket? Nathan would rather go naked. He ducked a flying lime-green pantsuit and cleared his throat.

“Robert--”

Robert paused in his digging, but didn’t turn around. “Nathan, darling. How delightful of you to come see me in my room...” Then he did turn, examining Nathan coolly through heavy-lidded dark blue eyes. “What do you want? Come to throw me out? At least let me buy a new wardrobe first, I have simply nothing to wear.” He pulled out a shiny silver shirt, stared at it for a minute, then started putting it on.

“Throw you out? No,” said Nathan. Even if that would solve many of his problems, he had no intention of throwing Robert out. “I’ve come to speak to you about the boy.”

“Julian?”

“No. Evan.” He paused. “Have you been speaking to Julian?”

“How could I be speaking to Julian when I have nothing to wear?” He now started slipping into a pair of black jeans which hugged his slender legs and hips tightly. He tucked the silver shirt in, and Nathan thought for a moment how flattering the outfit was, which was unusual for Robert.

Nathan shook his head. The last thing he needed right now was to start lusting after Robert. It was too tangled already, even though they had been lovers off and on for the past five hundred years. They were fond of each other, but each was too wrapped up in himself to truly feel anything more than friendship for the other.

“I just would like to explain what has happened to Julian,” Nathan said. “Meaning that I would prefer that you not.”

Dr. Robert’s eyes widened as he looked at Nathan in seeming comprehension. “You’ve killed him, then. Evan.”

“No!”

“You mean to kill him. I see it in your eyes...” Robert slipped up next to Nathan, his hands skittering over his shoulders like big, white spiders.

“Honey sauce, you’re thinking. A thin, golden basting of it over those long arms and legs...dripping over his rounded ass, coating his thighs...the look of terror in his eyes when he knows that the big, bad wolf is about to roast him alive. Poor Goldilocks,” he sighed.

Nathan frowned. As usual, Robert had his fairy tales tangled. And Robert’s fairy tales would have done the Brothers Grimm proud, for they were always dark and had horrific endings. But he didn’t encourage the black-haired vampire.

Maybe he shouldn’t give Evan to Robert. Maybe Robert would take the lad straight to the kitchens, himself if he did. Nathan could picture the child struggling as he saw the fate that awaited him, saw him forced to stand naked in the pan while Robert danced gleefully around the kitchen, spilling things everywhere and making a mess all over the floor [he winced at the thought.] And he had to admit that the thought made him hungry, though a child like Evan was no fun to force to suffer. He had suffered enough. Better to let him find death in his sleep, carried away on a cloud of pleasure.

But if he did give Evan to Robert, it would be Robert’s prerogative to kill him. He would have to take the risk and not interfere. Of course, he had every intention of telling Julian about the situation, knowing that Julian would be likely to prevent Robert from killing the boy.

Or would he? Julian had never had any reason for jealousy before. Would he be jealous of Evan? And if he was, would he be able to callously condemn the boy to death?

No matter, he could not turn back from this course of actions.

“No, I do not mean to kill him,” he said irritably. “Although without a doubt he would taste delicious.” Oh, that choice of words would certainly encourage Robert to keep him alive.

“Mmmmmmmmmm,” Robert agreed, licking his lips, purring into Nathan’s ear. Nathan fought the urge to push him aside.

“I wish to give him to you.”

Robert instantly stopped mmmmming, making a choking noise. “What?” He let go of Nathan and stepped in front of him, looking at him suspiciously.

“As Julian is mine, I wish Evan to be yours.”

“Julian--” Robert began, but Nathan glared at him and he cut off this train of thought. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. “D’you mean he’ll be mine to do with as I please?”

“Yes.”

“So if I likes to dress him up fine and take him to the club, I can? Or buy him an airplane? Or redecorate a suite for him?”

“Yes.” Nathan winced, thinking of how much another plane would cost. Then again, he could afford it. And hopefully Robert would forget this grand idea.

“And...I can be the one wot roasts him in the honey sauce?”

“That too, if you wish,” Nathan said.

Robert fell silent, which was odd for him, then he said, “I won’t.”

“Won’t buy him an airplane?” Nathan said hopefully.

“Won’t roast him. Well...unless he’s naughty.”

“Very well.” He turned to leave.

“Nathan--” Robert said before he had quite reached the doorway.

“Yes?” Nathan turned back around.

“Uh... Thank you.”

Robert threw himself into Nathan’s arms and kissed him passionately on the mouth...instinctively Nathan parted his lips and dueled with Robert’s tongue, slowly, wetly, having forgotten the pleasures of this mouth. Oh, it was lovely. But quickly it was over. The look in Robert’s eye said that Nathan might have him then if he wished, but Nathan wanted to go to Julian. He had a lot to tell the boy. And for the moment, being with Robert again didn’t seem appropriate.

“Be kind to him, Robert,” Nathan said, meaning Evan. As he slipped out of the room, Robert was pulling on a pair of silver boots and singing to himself...

“I’m so glad...that I found you...there’s a place for everyone...”

Once he had his boots on, he went down the hall to the Green Room and slipped inside.