Vampires Are Just Plain Folks

It was cold for October in Pittsburgh and the fake fireplace was blazing in the loft with the heating element definitely “on.” The guys were seated next to each other on the floor - enjoying a quiet evening.

“Gus’ Halloween party will be on Friday, the 30th?” Brian checked on the schedule.

“Yep, and the decorations crew will need a couple of days to turn this loft into a really terrifying place, Bri,” Justin warned him.

“You know what, Baby,” Brian had to laugh, “I’ve seen you turn this loft into a terrifying place in a matter of seconds. I guess having a crew to help you slows you down, eh?”

“Cut it out, Mr. Brian Kinney,” Justin objected. “You’d be mad if I didn’t have this place as scary as any haunted house we could ever take Gus to. That’s what you want and that’s what I’m gonna give you – and then you’ll take like – all the credit too….”

“Which I will deserve because I inspire you to do your best work at Halloween, JT,” Brian replied. “Just as I always do – in all kinds of situations and all kinds of ways.”

“I am not touching that statement with a ten-foot pole, Kinney,” Justin grinned. “But I guess I’m not denying it either. OK – and you want scary movie night to be on the 28th?”

“Yep – if that suits you,” Brian agreed. “You’ll handle all the invitations?”

“Who would if I didn’t?” Justin laughed at him. “I guess Mikey could – since he’s like – the co-host – but I think you’d rather I did it….”

“And so do you, Taylor,” Brian jibed. “So you can expand the attendance well beyond the loft’s capacity….”

“Now that’s not fair either, Brian,” Justin protested. “I have never invited anybody for scary movie night without your specific prior approval – and you know that too. And like – since some of us sit on people’s laps, there’s more room than we actually need….”

“So the assembly will be the same as last year,” Brian laughed at him.

“Just us, Mikey and Ben, Malcolm and Hunter, Brandon and Jason, and nephews Johnny and Peter- and – if you wanted to invite Jacob, that’s Johnny’s good friend who loves horror movies,” Justin told him, “I guess that would be all right….”

“Like – I know Jacob - to even think of inviting him?” Brian grinned. “I presume I’ll meet him though since he is probably already invited….”

“Is not either,” Justin objected. “Johnny just asked if we could fit him in and I said I’d ask you….”

“So invite him if you want to, Baby,” Brian squeezed the kid next to him. “And if you don’t want to, you can blame me. Everybody knows how mean I am….”

“But they don’t know the real you, Brian Kinney,” Justin assured him as he cuddled himself closer to Brian in response to the aforementioned squeeze. “Not like I do.”

It was quite a while before the conversation resumed - as it needed to, since all the details had not yet been worked out – but the guys showed no great sense of urgency – to resume the conversation that is.

“Have you thought about a costume for this year, Bri?” Justin wondered as the discussion eventually resumed.

“Why would I, Sweetheart?” Brian laughed. “Since you haven’t told me yet exactly what you have in mind. You can surprise me and tell me now if you want to – or you can just consult with that weirdo friend of yours at the costume shop and tell me later.”

“Brian Kinney,” Justin complained, “you always pick your costume yourself – and you know it too….”

“Well then I’ll be SpongePants SquareBob – like I was a couple of years ago,” Brian decided. “Like when I picked that costume before I even knew who SpongeSquare BobPants was….”

“I can see that you’re not gonna be serious about costumes right now, Bri,” Justin exuded patience. “But you are not gonna be SpongeBob SquarePants either. He is so yesterday. So did you and Mikey pick the scary movies yet?”

“We have to pick them early and order them so we’ll be sure to get what we want,” Brian reminded him, “So yeah – they’re ordered. Remember you dragged me to a couple of vampire movies this year – where the dumb vampires were just like real folks. Well we decided to go back to when vampires were vampires – not the sissies they are these days - so we picked a couple of Bela Lugosi movies. He was like – the absolutely scariest vampire ever. We’ll have Dracula, Night of Terror, and The Black Cat. All scary – all vampires and all Lugosi. Mikey especially likes The Black Cat and that was hard to find but we succeeded all right. Me and Mikey don’t give up easily”

“That’s only three movies though, Bri,” Justin reminded him. “It’ll be a short night unless they’re longer than usual for those old horror movies. We usually have four.”

“Nope, they aren’t very long,” Brian told him. “But I think we have a couple of real short vampire movies too – like the old short subjects used to be – but newer stuff. They only last about 15 minutes each….”

”Why didn’t you say something about these before, Brian?” Justin asked him – sounding unexpectedly a little nervous.

“Because I’m just telling you about the scary movies now, Baby,” Brian explained. “Like – you never asked before….”

“I guess I didn’t,” Justin admitted. “I guess that’ll be OK though.”

“And I forgot too, Baby,” Brian went on. “There will be one extra guy here for scary movie night – name of Cecil Emerson….”

“You know Cecil Emerson?” Justin now seemed surprised – and not in a good way either. “How the hell do you know about Cecil Emerson?”

“You sound like maybe you already know Cecil Emerson, Sweetheart,” Brian said with a smile on his face….

“You know I know Cec Emerson, Kinney,” Justin wailed, “and you know about the movie too….”

“Which I only found out about by accident,” Brian told him.

“Gee whiz, Brian,” Justin surrendered. “Cecil is our like – best cinematographer at the Institute – and he was gonna make this short vampire picture. Everything was all set to go and the kid who was supposed to play the vampire got like – real sick – and was throwing up and all – and the picture needed to be done cause everything else was ready and Cecil said I’d have to fill in and….”

“Well Cecil was real lucky to have such a natural available,” Brian grinned widely, “to step right in as the vampire and like – go in an unknown and come out a star….”

“So how did you find out, Brian?” Justin seemed puzzled. “It was supposed to be a secret….”

“Well I think Cecil did keep it a secret. He only told Malcolm. Malcolm kept it a secret too. He only told Hunter. And Hunter kept it a secret too. He only told Jason who only told Brandon. Brandon kept it a secret too, Baby. He only told me – so it’s like - still a big secret….”

“Well it won’t be a secret after you show it to the crowd of thousands here on scary movie night, Bri,” Justin pointed out with a grin. “It’ll probably get a review in the Post-Gazette and we’ll have long lines outside the loft for subsequent screenings….”

“I told Cecil we’d only show it if it was OK with you, Sweetheart,” Brian told him. “And he was OK with that - according to Malcolm. So it’s actually your call….”

“I guess I should have told you about the movie, Bri,” Justin admitted. “I don’t know why I didn’t. And I haven’t even seen it yet myself - but I guess it will be OK to show it here on scary movie night – but – remember this, Kinney - if you laugh even once – I’ll be sitting on your lap with both your arms around me – and I’ll give you such an elbow in the ribs.”

“Bet you won’t be able to elbow me in my ribs if I hold you tight enough that you can’t move your arms….” Brian told him.

“Well then, Kinney,” Justin ran his hand through Brian’s hair, “I suggest that’s what you better do….”

And Brian made a mental note to do just that. It seemed like a plan to him.
 

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