SPOILERS: none, really, for once…

DISCLAIMER: Yeah, yeah, I don’t own Louis or Lestat, just borrowing them for the evening.

I don’t often like to comment on the differences between the human and vampire worlds; I’m all for that blending and mixing and overlap thing. For instance, if it’s Christmas in New Orleans, our house has a decorated tree. If there’s a sale on shampoo at the grocery store, you’ll find me there with a hastily ripped out coupon in my hand, or in my teeth.

But there are some times when the overlap is so much more noticeable. And I’m not just talking about the bitter sorrow of staring at the basket of Easter chocolate and knowing that you’ll never know the taste difference between a jellybean and a Peep. There are some times when it can be a rather surprisingly life and death difference. And again, I’m not talking about my fledgling’s teenage human tendency to play with fire, although my example will use my darling Louis. He is so unconcerned with the ways of the world, keeping to himself in all things, except for his nearly constant presence in the local bookshops.

And since vampires are not to prone to suffer the slings and arrows of a wintry squall or a blistering heat wave, time of year generally means little except to those, like me, who like to play with the holiday glam and ribbons and presents. I suppose Louis does keep up on the presents at least…which I do appreciate. The Vampire Lestat should never be short on fan gifts, especially from his favorite fledgling.

There are two days of the year which can wreak havoc on a vampire who does not watch the calendar, but does watch the clock. Yes, my friends, daylight savings time. When we ‘spring ahead’ it isn’t so bad. Basically we seem to be getting to wake up a little later, but we lie abed long before the actual hour of sleep. I will never forget Louis’ frantic steps in the front hall as he rushed into the flat. I looked up from my engaging game of Bejeweled on the computer and stared at him as he laid a hand to his heaving chest.

“Louis, what on earth is the matter?” He shook his head helplessly as he caught his breath.

“I was out for a walk and lost track of time until I heard the bells. I could have been killed! How thoughtless of me.” I quirked an eyebrow at his worried expression. “I will have to sleep here.” Well, I was going to tell him that the clocks had all been changed and he did have an extra hour, but after his decision to stay at the house, I simply…forgot about it.

“Oh, poor Louis! Of course, stay here by all means. What a dangerous situation…”

The cold shoulder the next evening is, believe it or not, worth it.

But he never remembers this by autumn. When we all remember to ‘fall back,’ Louis doesn’t set his watch to what the news anchor reminds him to. And why? Because my Louis disdains television as ‘useless and vulgar.’

Therefore, I refuse any to listen to any complaints about his little embarrassment last fall. Nothing like walking by a commotion at a local bookshop and peeking in to see what was going on. I heard a buzz about ‘the ambulance is coming’ and ‘poor boy suddenly collapsed.’ Sighing, I push my way through the crowd of people-each with his or her watch set to an hour before it had been before. On the other hand, my television-disdaining Louis is lying in a pretty crumpled heap on the carpeted floor of the shop. His fine black hair is tumbled over his face, and he does not react in the slightest to the frantic clerk’s attempt to wake him. Daylight comes an hour sooner, Louis…

“Narcolepsy,” I say, shaking my head. “Sorry about all the trouble, folks. I’ll take care of him.” He’s not a heavy burden over my shoulder, and I flash them all with a dashing smile that makes them not remember what just happened. I know he won’t remember next year, in any event.

Any minute he’ll come rushing in, frantic about the early encroaching dawn. And then I’ll have just about an hour to reassure him…and maybe make it worth remembering.

The End.