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"BRIGHT NIGHT"

by Kelly Martin and a bit o' Christopher Shelton

 

IMAGINE A TIMELINE IN WHICH THESE EVENTS COULD ALL HAPPEN... GOT IT? OK, LET'S BEGIN...

 

 

  Jack was roused from his slumber one afternoon, by that familiar flat voice.
      "I've got a present for you," he heard Vitus say from the hall. He wasn't sure if he was trying to be whimsical about some irritating chore. That sure seemed like a dad kind of thing to do.
      "What is it..." he grumbled as he rolled around, tangled uselessly in his sheets. The oppression of day rendering him weaker than in life. "Please tell me it's the elixir of life."
      "No..."
      "Are you going to cast de-ZOM on me? Oh man, you don't play games, nevermind."
      "Games? I played Avant a bit... checkers..."
Jack shook his head and swaddled himself in his blanket.
     
 

 

      "Wut. It's early. Or.. late. Whatever."
      "I've been trying to plan this for a while, but it never seems like a good time." Vitus finally entered the room from the hall, standing around awkwardly in his pajamas.
"Anyway... doesn't seem too busy or strange at the moment though. How about we have a break, and see a film?"
      "Wow really?" Jack sat up a little more. Now this was interesting. He'd really checked out of pop culture since he died.
      "You've been training well, I think you deserve a day off. Also, Demetri says Tristan needs to get out more, he convinced Sarah to let him come along. I'd really rather not train two for the price of one... so this gets me off the hook too."
      "I would make a cutting comment about your motivation, but I don't want to deter this kind of behavior. Let's do it! --But, why are you telling me this right now? You know I love sleeping and... not being awake." Jack tried to luxuriate in his blanket, but he only felt the dull ache of being not quite dead, but not entirely sensate.
      "Uh... We have to get ready."
      "Now? Why?"
      "We're meeting at 4:00."
      "PM?"
      "....Yes."
      "...WHY?!"
      "Sarah wants Tristan back by nightfall."
Jack sighed dramatically. "Oh brother."
      "Yes?"
      "What?"
      "Huh? Brother?"
      "I'm confused."
The two blinked at each other for a moment.
      "Wait--" Vitus squeezed his eyes closed like a tired pigeon, "Oh yeah. I'm not your brother. I'm..."
      "Let's not talk about it..."
      "Yes. Good idea. "

 

 

 
Jack and Vitus met up as they waited for the cab. No one wanted to drive in the state they were in. Jack eyeballed Vitus' get up.
      "God Veets, sure you don't want a big black umbrella too?"
      "Would that be too conspicuous?"
      "...You were honestly considering that? I mean, the sun sucks, but..."
      "I've got delicate skin. It's not my fault that I'm fair."
      "Ugh you smell weird. When did you wear this last?"
      "Uhh... When did they build the stadium in the south?"
      "...Before I was born."
      "Nevermind."
 

 

 

      The half-hearted Autumn sun beat down on the vampires as they shuffled out of the cab. Vitus groaned and hunched over like his arms could support the weight of his upper body. Jack spied Tristan waiting in a shadow, under an awning, and actually managed to jog over. He was happy to see Tristan of course, but Tristan in a deep shadow was even better. As he received a friendly hug, Vitus trudged over and said in even more of a deadpan than normal,
      "I forgot why we're doing this. Can't think. Only pain. Ugh. Ugh. Kill me."
Tristan ignored the dreary old man and smiled weakly at Jack.
      "I love to see a film!"
      "Yes," Vitus said, "It's dark. There is such beauty in darkness. Let's go. Please."
      "So what do we see?" Tristan asked.
Jack glanced around at the posters, all for movies he'd never even heard of by the point. Next to the ticket office, he saw a familiar sight.

 

        “Ooh ooh! This is still playing? Oh wow! ”
The poster did seem shoved away in a corner, probably on its last legs before it was sent to home video for good.
      "I wanted to see this before-- um... well you know. Never got the chance."
Vitus squinted at the poster like he needed glasses for his perfect vision.
      “Is that based on one of those books? It's my understanding they don't have much literary merit.”
      “Oh come on, what good movies do? Don't you want to go to the darkness anyway? "
      “Well... Forneau said in Celluloid Treatise that the media should not be taken as an extension of prose. They have their own art, and should be viewed as such. However, I don't know if we can overlook such a weak source material when converting to such an involved media.”
Jack glanced to Tristan who shrugged.
      “Oh wait, did you see this..." Jack pushed away a rack of outdated theater programs from in front of the poster.
 

 

Vitus looked blank for a moment and then looked to Jack.   
      "I see what you mean. Monster Princess it is. Oh.. darn I forgot, the showing is too late. That'll end a fair bit after nightfall."
Tristan sighed sheepishly.
      “Ugh…” Jack looked around at the movie posters again, but there wasn't a single other poster with a half-naked man on it.
      “There's a movie starting right now,” Vitus noted the time table, "Eleanor and the White King?"

 

 

      “Aw man,” Jack frowned, “That's some award winning shit. Look at it. Just covered in words. You know what that means. It's 'important' so it's gonna be boring as fuck.”
      “Oh no, don't be silly. I read that one,” Vitus recalled “That was certainly Haight's greatest work, elegant and simple. Whereas the others seem to employ a sort of... tortured or forced macabre element. Ah.. prose then. But you should enjoy this.”
       “Yes, it's dark inside...” Jack groaned.

 

 

 

The theater was mostly empty, despite this film's lavish praise. Jack did not feel hopeful. Tristan leaned over to him as the lights dimmed.   
      “I'm so happy to be here! I hope this means I see you more.” 
He squeezed Jack's shoulder and they both felt slightly less corpse-like than they did when they were outside. Vitus blinked like his eyelids were filled with peanut butter. Commercials for products they would never, and usually could not use blared insistently until, at last, the film began.

 

 

   The film was painful. Vitus was instantly dead the moment the bony lead actress began intoning the stiff dialogue. The studio must have been banking on some literary cred and pooped out this glorified monologue for some extra cash, or else the book was really this dreadful. Jack didn't want to add to the corpse pile, so he had to find a way to stay awake. He let his mind wander.

 

    The actress ambled around some trees which may or may not have had CG effects doing something but Jack wasn't really paying attention. Tristan actually seemed to be watching, or had just arranged himself into a look of thoughtful contemplation before expiring. Jack continued with his fun.  

 

        "Yes? Did I bother you? Um, was I doing something?" Jack was thankful spontaneous erections were not something he had to worry about anymore.
      "Ha, no. I just watch you. Do you dream?"
      "Wha-what? Um.. I don't know. Maybe a little...?"
      "I can tell."
       "Huh?! How can you tell?"
      "You have far away look. You look happy."
      "Oh ehm, ha.. yes... maybe..."
      "Grandmothers in my country like to tell children to dream forever, dream all that you can. If it makes you happy you should dream, OK?"
      "Oh yes..."
      "Dream of the biggest things, not just little stuff. That's how amazing things will happen to you. Dream something crazy! You try it, OK?"
       "Sure..."
 

...

...

      "YES. Of course, because we were watching a movie. It's over now. OK." Jack tottered out of his seat with a bizarre expression.
    "You boys go ahead," he spoke in a stilted voice, "I'm uh, gonna use the... restroom. Just for quicks. By myself. I'll meet you outside. Ok bye." he bustled away.
Vitus sluggishly sat up, trying to remember his dream. Whatever the case, his eyelashes were all tangled together and he was half-blind for a moment.
 

...

         Jack tried to regroup and casually enter the conversation after being gone for a few minutes. That was just going to be way too distracting unless he did something about it. Still, weird. Dreaming big and crazy.. well, maybe just normal sized and normal levels of sanity for the future. Don't want to make things creepy. But uh... yeah. Huh huh.
Thankfully it was night now, and all the invisible man style gear could be ditched.
      "Oh hey Jack," Tristan said as he approached, "what do you think of movie?"
      "It was OK. Yeah, the camerawork. Y'know."
      "I think it was good. Special effects are nice. But I don't understand... Main woman looks like a man kind of."
      "Ha!" Jack thought it was time to open the flood gates of celebrity bitchery but Vitus gave him a disapproving look. "--I mean... oh? Why's that?"
      "No breasts. Kind of man face. It's weird. Makes me feel weird."
      "Oh Tristan, that's kind of judgmental..." Vitus said, "There are all kinds of beauty, I thought you would be familiar with that, being a model yourself. "
      "No, she looks good still. Kind of sexy. Not really... Maybe. But it's confusing. Makes me confused. Because of that, you know? I think she would look better to be a man. "
      Jack raised an eyebrow, "Confused? Because you thought she looked like a dude... and normally... you like-- ... ? Or... you don't normally like-- ...? Your preferred gender is...?" he tried to provoke Tristan to continue the line of thought, but he just looked expectant and a bit blank in return.
      "Well it's pretty dark," Vitus interjected, "I'm too tired for Sarah. In general. I'm too tired for her to exist. Especially around me. Perhaps you should get going, Tristan."
      "You are right. Goodbye Jack."
 

  After Tristan waved from the parking lot, Vitus whispered to Jack.
      "You should be careful. You know how Dragomirs are. It's a violent culture to be raised in. He could be a dangerous vampire to know."
      "Dangerous? That's the last thing I'd think about Tristan."
      "Maybe now. Maybe that's just what he seems like. I just know they have a way of turning out the same on that front. We don't know how Tristan's going to react to how he's raised. Perhaps he will take it in stride and be humane, but you never know. Don't trust him too easily."
      Jack thought a moment, and cocked his head, "...Are you trying to make him seem like a 'bad boy?'"
      "A what? No... I'm just saying..."
Vitus was interrupted by a roar of an engine.
 

        "Huh huh. Aw yea." Jack said.
Vitus shook his head, "I guess I'm just not exciting enough for you. Three's a crowd as they say. "
Jack gave him a very strange, alarmed look.
       "What? Well... I guess I wasn't that good of company back there anyway."
      "OHHH." Jack's eyes returned to their normal size. "Right. You mean... of course you mean that. Heh, um..."
      "At any rate, I have some plans. You know how to call a cab, right?"
      "Yes 'Dad'-- but wait... I thought we could catch the last showing of Monster Princess."
      "Ah, well... yes maybe later. That does look good. Very good.. Ehehm. Yes I'm afraid I have some business to attend to, on that line."
      "What? You have a sexy prince to whip into submission while you sword fight your way through oppressive monster hordes? I have that planned for next Wednesday, myself."
      "...Is that what the film is about?"
      "Yeah."
      "Oh... it's always better in the imagination. Well I've got some important women to see about... important things. You know, blood and such. Strictly necessary."
 

  As ever, Jack hated being left out. He thought about going to see the movie by himself, but he wouldn't have anyone to commiserate with if it was unexpectedly awful. He felt symbolic tumbleweeds rolling around his ankles. Before he could even make a decision, something came to his notice rather abruptly.  

 

"Hello Jack."
"THEODORE?! W-how-what?"

 

 

      "You shouldn't be doing that!" Jack looked around in a panic. Of course, no one was looking.
      "What? It's not illegal."
      "Whatever... Ugh, just get down from there. What do you want?"
Theodore crawled under the awning, weightless and with his limbs bent at eerie angles. Then down the wall, scuttling like a spider before lighting on his fresh white toes with a solid clack.
      "I want to see a movie."
      "A m-movie?!"
      "Yes Jack. A 'movie.' They've been calling motion pictures 'movies' for a good 75 years. I'm aware of this."
Jack was unsettled enough to want to go home now, but Theodore was not an easy person to brush off.
      "Well uh, OK I guess. How about Monster Princess?"
      "What is that?"
      "It's an action movie, sword fights and stuff." Jack showed him the poster. What kind of fun was it going be watching a movie with this little creepo though? Even just sitting next to him for two hours...
      "That looks like a good swash buckler." Theodore said after a moment's consideration. "However, I am concerned it may have subversive tones. I feel I am fairly modern but I also feel upholding certain values is important in our society. That decolletage is a bit extreme, don't you think?"
      "I have no idea what you're talking about."
      "Oh well. When in Kallas, do as the Kallans do..."

...

      "Two for Monster Princess..."
      "Adults?"
      "Um, yeah?"
      "How old is your friend there?"
Theodore piped up from behind Jack, "152."
      "Ha ha. Got an ID?"
      "No. I assure you, I may be young at heart, but I have traveled the world."
      "Uh huh. Your voice hasn't even changed, son."
Jack interrupted before Theodore could get mouthy, "OK OK.. Fine. Do you have anything for all ages?"
      "We're in the middle of a showing of Fuzzy Babies 3D."
      "Ooh babies!" Theodore said, grinning.
      "...Fine." Jack sighed miserably, "Two for... God. What was it?"
      "Fuzzy... Babies. 3D."
      "Yeah. That."

 

 

      Theodore only complained once about the apparent lack of babies in Fuzzy Babies 3d. Surprisingly he sat still and was quiet, seemingly content to watch the inscrutable undulating shapes on the screen. They were alone in the theater, this late night showing of what seemed to be a completely abstract, psychedelic film for toddlers. It took Jack a few moments to realize that they hadn't been given 3d glasses. He wasn't sure if that would even increase his enjoyment of the film, as the strange blobs cavorted around and shrieked about friendship.

 

  This movie was even more intolerable than the last one. At least the other could lull you into a semi-death state. His senses all wanted to be shut down or just burn out when faced with this insistent onslaught. Well, he could try what he did last time... except this environment was much more distracting.  

        The only thing Jack could do to deal with the torment was to face it head-on, and try to follow the plot of the movie. He had nearly begun to understand what a Frubbly was, and what peril the world was in when they became wubbly, when he saw Theodore staring at him again. This time though, he didn't look away.  

 

        "Um, I guess. Yeah, sure. "
Theodore looked satisfied, and returned his attention to the movie. The wubblies had only completed one frolic before those pale eyes were fixed on him again.
      "Hey Jack..."
      "What?"
      "...I like you." Theodore smiled in the dark theater. He seemed very small in his seat. Jack never really thought about it before. He was of course, a weird little monster, but maybe he really did just want friends.
      Jack smiled, feeling awkward, "I uh, I like you too."
Theodore smiled broadly, and seemed distracted for a moment, picking at his lapel pin.
      "Hey Jack..." he said as the wubble-tree emitted another undulating shape that may or may not have been a character.
      "What?"
      "If we're friends... and we like each other... Does that mean, well, you know?"
      "...What?"
      "Well... Are we best friends forever--?!"
 

 

 

...

 

 

 

      "Aren't you wubbled-out or whatever?"
      "I have no earthly idea what you're talking about."
      "Weren't you watching that?"
      "I couldn't follow it. It just looked like wavy lines."
      "What?! How did you sit still for so long then? I was going out of my mind! I figured you were enjoying it or I would have just left!"
      "I was enjoying myself. I just like being in your company. It wouldn't matter what we were doing."
Jack was exasperated, and just a little flattered.
      "I'm sorry." Theodore gave him a sensitive look, "I would have liked it more if it had real babies in it. Or... humans in general. It has no bearing on my opinion of you, which I assure you is quite substantial."
      "Um, I guess that's good. Well what do you want to do then?"
      "I want to do the sort of things you like. What do you do for fun?"
      "What... do you want to go to the gay bar with me or something?" Jack said with a smirk.
      "Gay? What sort of frivolity does one engage in there? I never did enjoy libations but I will follow you anywhere, my friend. To your gay-bar then. "

Jack pondered how that scenario might go...

 

 

 

"No... I don't know if you would fit in well there. "
"Why not? Am I not suiting their dress code?"
"Uh... That's not it really. Would you even be interested to go there?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"It's for men who are ... y'know, into something in particular. What are you into, anyway?"
"The usual things. Sailing, wildlife, conversations with friends, fashion..."
"Not what I meant. I mean... for people. Men or women? Or combinations thereof?"
"I do get along best with men I think, but I can be friends with anyone."
"No, it's... it's for men who REALLY like men. You know?"
"I really like you."

 

        "Nevermind about the bar." Jack said after a very uncomfortable few seconds, "I'm not in the mood... Plus, you got carded for a goddamn movie, what was I thinking?"
      "Very well. How about we go for a sail? It's quiet on the water this time of night, and the docks are just a short walk."
      "Hell... That actually does sound kind of nice. "
 

 

Theodore brushed at his suit, "I think I've got quite a sense of style."
      "Yeah? Um, I suppose. What do you, um, call that style anyway?"
      "I don't follow trends, but I am aware of the new rules. For instance, sporting wear is acceptable in casual circumstances these days."
      "Where do you hear that?"
      "I've read magazines. You know, like Man Moderne, Studio Salon, Cufflinks... the classics. "
      "Those have been out of print for like... twenty years I think."
      "Oh. Very classic now, I suppose. Perhaps you can enlighten me... though.. ermm..."
      "What?"
      "I don't know. Your style is so... drab."
      "Drab!?"
      "So dark. It's bad enough we must exist in night, must you match it in garment as well?"
      "Humph."
      "Oh dear, I didn't mean to offend. I'm not having good luck winning your favor tonight. I have been hoping dearly we can be the best of friends."
      "So why is that? What's so cool about me?"

 

        "Jack... I was really hoping you would be my second in command."
      "What?!" Jack looked alarmed.
      "Not just for this battle, though a comrade in arms would be useful. I do understand that you would find the whole matter too dangerous at this juncture. It's more about... don't get me wrong, I've always got quite the social calendar-- but it has been ages since I had a very close friend."
 

        "Oh?"
      "Yes, I had one once. Someday I will tell you about her. She was very important to me."
      " 'Her' eh...?" Jack was not having the clearest results from his gaydar lately.
      "Yes. I suppose it's unfair to expect you to live up to those kind of expectations. I am glad to have you as a friend. That's all I've really ever wanted in life-- friends."
      "Really?! That's it huh? "
      "Yes, there are many important things in life. Power, success, money. Really though, I have mainly sought friendship. "
      "Somehow that is surprising to me."
      "Yes, friendship is my life's blood... em, so to speak. There is something else that I've always wanted."
Jack wondered what horror Theodore would describe as he turned away to face the water dramatically.
      "That is of course..."
 

        "Uhh..." Jack felt intensely uncomfortable.
      "For now though, my love is the ocean. She is good to me... except when she isn't. Well then, better bring this boat back to whoever owns it."
      "This isn't your boat?!"
      " 'The Skippy'? You think I'd come up with that stupid of a name?"
Theodore gestured at the air, and the wind picked up in a whistling gale that filled the sails, speeding their voyage back to land. Jack hoped that was a coincidence. He couldn't deal with Theodore being a wizard too.

 

        "Oh thank you Jack, I've had the most wonderful time and--"
Jack suddenly felt a rush of wind, and then there was nothing. He was alone.
 

        "Jack."
Jack whipped around at the sound of that voice. Demetri had a little smile as his eyes glinted in the darkness.
      "God! Ugh.."
Demetri shook his head sadly. "You know I hate these words."
      "Yeah whatever, Dorein. Do you always have to try to scare me? It doesn't work anymore!"
      "Scare you...?" he looked incredulous and perhaps, a bit hurt,
"Why would I ever want to do that? You know I only want the best for you. At any rate, I wanted to invite you to a party.
      "NOOOOOOOO--"
      "Oh come on. I know I haven't had the best track record with those, but it's totally incidental that I'm even involved. It's Aubrey's birthday party."
      "What? Aw man... That guy is a weird weirdo."
      "He's a sad old man Jack."
 

  Jack rubbed his head in psychological pain,
      "Fine. Fine. If you play some nightmare trick on me though, I'm going to be really upset."
      "I know."
 

...

        "Jack that was such a sweet present!" Helen said, touching Jack's shoulder with a warm expression, "He loves bonnets and it's so hard to find them in his size!"
      "Yeah, um, I heard that. So... no prob." Jack said casually. Demetri smiled at him knowingly.
It was a bit of an empty house tonight. Birthdays weren't generally celebrated by those past their human lives by a few decades, but Aubrey was a hold out, now with more than five hundred parties to his name, he wasn't tired of them yet. Though, clearly, the rest of the Circle was. All eyes fell on Thierry. He looked a bit defensive, then seemed to have some annoying realization.
      "Oh um, yes, of course I got you a present Aubrey.. um.. it is.... a.. uh..."
 

 

        The imp capered about for everyone's amusement, doing high-kicks and jazz squares with its tiny limbs. After a couple turns around the room, it took off, springing down a stone hall.
      "Yeahh.. he might uh, steal some shoes." Thierry scratched his head sheepishly, "You don't have any chickens right? No? Good. Yeah he's gonna steal some shoes."
 

...

        "What mischief you have you planned tonight, young man?" Demetri asked.
Jack was about to answer with 'nuthin' when he realized that he wasn't the one being spoken to.
      "I'm off to see an important film." Thierry said, with a rather sultry look.
      "I didn't know you were a fan of the cinema," Demetri said.
      "I'm not, but I'm a fan of boobs."
      "Wait," Jack snapped his head to look at Thierry intensely, "--What 'film' is this?"
      "Monster Princess 3d."
      "IT'S IN 3D NOW?!"
      "Oui, where have you been?"
      "They play movies this late?!-- wait, I'm not even going to question this. I'm going to this movie. I'm GOING TO IT FOREVER."
Demetri smiled, "I suppose you'll both need a ride..."
      "Ugh, mon Dieu--" Thierry groaned. Demetri gave him a sharp look at that last word. "--I really wanted to see it *alone* if you know what I mean."
      "Won't you have trouble getting in?" Jack asked.
      "Why would I?"
 

        "WTF Vitus!" Jack said, "I thought you had to go bone some ladies or whatever."
      "I did. *Ahem* I wanted to see this, you know. I know it's not cool to hang out with your dad but you'll always be my little champ. Or something. Is that what I'm supposed to say? "
      "You're all going?! AUGH TOO MANY PENISES HERE." Thierry shook his tiny fist.
      "In the theater?" Demetri asked with a smile, "Well, I did hear that when the lights go down in a theater, everyone is usually masturbating."
 

        "Where the hell did you hear that?" Jack asked Demetri, as the three lanky vampires easily kept up with Thierry's furious, but short legs.
      "I thought it was common knowledge. Have I been deceived? What a disappointment."
 

...

...

THE END FOREVER

Thanks to all who voted. I love you. I wanted to put everyone in and I WOULD if it weren't for... the Scooby gang, or something. I don't know.

THUS ENDS MY 48 HOUR COMIC MASSACRE. I DIE. <3

 
 
 
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