Homoween 2019: Hollywood Coven

Introductions

It wasn't an autumn rain, not quite yet. It was still a bit too warm and the way it hit the top of the windows was too - well- summery. As one aged, you started to learn the difference in the patterns of rain. Late winter could be aggressive, sharp. Like a jolt from a weapon. And spring was a mist with a softness. It moved like it remembered itself as a cloud. Like with most things, summer wanted to hug you. So the rain was larger, it covered more. It was needy and unambivalent. 

But there was a taste here of autumn rain, just in between the drops. Fall rain had a hopefulness to it. It was slightly independent. It wasn't greedy for the land. It was simply rain enjoying the work of falling and of splashing. It was playful, inconsistent, almost a rhythmic dance of nature. 

Luke enjoyed the rain from the converted sun room. Yes, of course he understood the irony of a vampire having a sun room. But vampires weren't always what people thought they were. That was the wonderful thing about marketing. People would believe anything. Besides that fact, the sun room was a great place to observe the evening. Luke was very fortunate to be wealthy enough to afford a view in California. He had a dip, not quite into a canyon, but far enough into it. He was close enough to Laurel Canyon that the house had a feeling of vintage glamour but without that fussy old world European attitude. 

He didn't mind Euro grandeur when abroad or when he was on a set but what was the point of putting on airs in your own home? He'd do that if he needed to be with his coven or if a role demanded it. But not here, no.

He'd fitted out the sun room nicely. And not just to impress his friend and neighbor down the road- who had a nice view into his sun room, and enjoyed Luke's exhibitionist tendencies as much as Luke enjoyed being something of an exhibitionist, but also for his own comfort. He supposed that he did go a little eerie vampire with his own personal aesthetic considering the sun room's large sofa covered with slick black sheets and soft candle glow from hand molded lamps. But he did enjoy the occasional bit of pencil for his lids and the occasional gaudy leather pant- so no one was perfect. And really, he was a vampire. No point in not LeStating it up just a touch if the spirit so moved.

So there was Luke- stretched out, listening to the rain. He wore a smile and well tailored expensive cotton pants from his friend Tom and nothing else. Tom made exquisite clothes and movies and Luke always felt so lucky to know Tom. He was jealous that he himself could not be one of Tom's family, but they were dear friends who played well together- so was there much more to be? Luke could be content with lucky enough.

Luke was a muscular sort of slim, pale but healthy enough and usually with cropped black hair. Luke had always felt himself to be long and fluid. He did some sports, he enjoyed athletic pursuits like fencing and crew and always had, but there was a sort of gracefulness in his bones that kept him from being hypermasculine. He was aware of himself too much. Sometimes it worked in movies. Sometimes there were painful reshoots. 

His phone buzzed. His guest was at the door. 

"Come in, love. Just down the hallway, lock the door after yourself-" Luke said in a calm voice into the phone as he buzzed the man in. His heart would've raced slightly if it had been possible but it couldn't physically race much until after he'd eaten. 

Soon enough, the man was in the doorway to the sun room. Luke turned his head, looking over and he gave the man a toothy grin. The man tried not to be cowed. 

Luke didn't have to smell the emotions. They poured off of him. The man was- easily impressed. Poor soul.

"Are you really him?"

"Promise. Cross my heart."

"I thought I was being catfished but I thought what the hell- life's short-"