It’s raining here tonight, or at least it was. Saw some lightning on the way home from work. Searched “rain” on Pexels, and found that gorgeous photo of a very New Orleans-looking fence amidst wet weather. There was no location mentioned in the post, unfortunately, but a quick Google search revealed the “bamboo grasses” described do, in fact, flourish in Louisiana.
Still reading Lost Souls for the third time. The action has drifted away from New Orleans, but it’ll wind its way back. Either way, I’ve been in a very New Orleans frame of mind for some time, researching, etc. Not that it was in any way authentic, but I also had canned jambalaya for dinner, with toast. I’ve made gumbo but not jambalaya. Might have to give it a whirl sometime.
Also thinking about the rain. Listened to Concrete Blonde’s “Rain,” as it had come to mind. Thought maybe I had made a playlist for rainy days, but it looks like I never did!
I have one for the winter and snow, and finally made two for Christmas/Yule, this past holiday season. And I think Sweater Weather. Unless I’m thinking of someone else’s playlist that I saved? I know Spotify does a lot of Sweater Weather stuff. But…no rain. HA that’s another one. “No Rain.” And “Only Happy When It Rains.”
Will have to put that one together!
Switching gears back to the photo…Amazingly, the topic of New Orleans comes up regularly at work. People stop in mentioning they’re headed that way. One had a trip in that direction shortly before Mardi Gras. I asked if that was the purpose, but they disagreed vehemently and said it was just a business trip.
It came up again tonight.
I would like to see it for myself, absorb the vibe, sample the food, listen to the music. Maybe do a ghost tour, by horse-drawn carriage.
If I was traveling with someone game to assist, I would ask them to order some Chartreuse just so I could try it. I guess I could get it online, but since I don’t really drink anymore, I’m not sure what I would do with a whole bottle. But I would love to say I’ve tasted it.
I’ve had Absinthe. Back before we added an anti-anxiety med to my cocktail, and it seemed like maybe one prescription too many to keep chancing it.
Not entirely sure if what I had was purchased or made. There’s a chain store that sells Absinthe-brewing kits. I gave one to a friend, either for her birthday, or Christmas. I forget.
Before that, however, a coworker gave me a jar of absinthe and the rest of the ingredients to make Sazerac cocktails. Since that recipe called for merely coating the inside of the glass in Absinthe, the Sazerac supplies lasted a good, long while.
I had asked my coworker whose Absinthe it was in the jar, just to know the brand, but all she said was, “It’s the strongest you can get.” I’m guessing if it was homemade, this means she used Everclear, which is what I gave my friend to go along with the herbs in the brewing kit. But my coworker had also previously lived in New Orleans, so who knows? She might’ve brought it back with her, or ordered some, herself.
I guess I could give some Chartreuse to my friend who enjoyed the Absinthe? From my understanding, they’re both herbal liqueurs, albeit with different flavors. But she might appreciate that.
I could even get it as a “just because” thing to experience with her, rather than waiting for an occasion. She does have a fall birthday, though, and that’s not super far off. If I was feeling really wild, I could order both varieties to be shipped!
A song from a totally unrelated playlist mentioned rain, and I didn’t want to forget which one it was. Then, I fell into a rabbit hole of a pre-existing rain song playlist, and some lists just intended for rainy day vibes.
Some of the latter had a LOT of follows. I’ve never become Spotify famous, but it’s fun to see what other listeners put together. And I will admit to borrowing here and there from existing playlists, when I’m looking to follow a theme.
Also discovered a Sleep Token song called “Rain.” That’s the second time Spotify was like, hey, there’s some Sleep Token for that. Loving that.
Someone I’ve been talking to from one of the dating apps is looking to form a group of fellow creatives for input and critiques. It came up in conversation tonight, as we were messaging. I’m pretty pumped about that. Maybe that was his primary reason for liking my profile?
Not sure which interests were posted on my account at that time. Whenever I update my photos, it kicks out the whole list. The last time I tried to re-enter all of the interests I’d picked out (they were legion), I think it only saved 5. Boo!
I almost wish it was still storming, provided the weather didn’t cause property damage or blackouts for anyone. This music is putting me in a very rainy mood! And the sound is so soothing, as is the smell. Love me some rain-scented incense.
Also discovered Creed had covered “Riders on the Storm” at some point. Not really about rain so much as life. But there’s a hint of rain sound effects at the beginning. And, the title.
HUZZAH! Reddit also struck, once again. Someone else had asked about rain songs, a year ago. It’s getting late, here. I don’t have it in me to comb through all those tracks tonight, but the project is started.
And I hear more rain falling.
Now, some thunder. Nothing like a good storm.
I just decided to add some rain to the scene I was last working on in Mystery Train. So much for sleep. The sound of the thunder inspired a whole new subplot, about how one of the vampires seems to sleep longer and more deeply than the other two. Jared was made days before her, but he doesn’t need nearly as much rest.
In my fictive world, part of the transformation into vampirism takes place in a dream. I haven’t yet differentiated if this is the case for every variety of vampire or just the ones who favor Morpheus as their patron. They are able to induce visions in their prey, either during sleep, or as distracted impressions while they’re awake. In the second instance, the humans have typically been inebriated, which I imagine now would only help. They hunt a lot in bars.
Jared was made by Dorian’s direct influence. They shared a dream together and interacted within it, as Jared acquired the magical component of his new nature.
Haven, on the other hand, was turned while they were in the haunted bed and breakfast, in the shorter piece, “Hyacinth House.” Dorian doesn’t discuss with Jared why he made this choice, but he binds Haven to her magic through a “sending” rather than falling asleep alongside her and traveling into her dream.
She receives a vision sent to her through Dorian’s blood, which created her. In the moment, Jared assumes that Dorian didn’t want to risk more of them than absolutely necessary being unconscious while they were all in so much danger– especially since Dorian was the eldest vamp among them. That Dorian figured they all needed his protection, not just Haven.
Jared hears each individual drop of rain hit, and the thunder is especially intense, with his heightened senses. I never mentioned if this was his first rainstorm as a vampire. Likely not, since some of the summarized bits take place during Los Angeles’s rainy season. But at least from what I remember, that’s more steady downpours sometimes lasting days, rather than thunderstorms.
He notices Haven still sleeping through the thunder and asks Dorian if they should be concerned. And, is it just him, or has it gotten worse? The depth and duration of her sleep. SUSPENSE!
She will wake eventually, I think, and sooner or later, there will be more plot developments about the murder. We’re getting there.
Although it might be more interesting if she doesn’t wake at all, at least that night. Because my vampires don’t have heartbeats. She would seem effectively dead. They would need some clever misdirection to hide that from any authorities and train staff. And it could add more fuel to the investigator’s suspicions of their involvement in the murder on the train.
Fun things to ponder. Pardon me if that’s effectively a plot spoiler, if you’d intended to look into the series. It is very spicy and definitely not for everyone, especially as it centers a polyamorous M/M/F relationship, with much emphasis on the connection between the two men.
Haven and Jared connect at times, as well, especially when Dorian is being difficult, but it is in many ways Dorian and Jared’s story. It’s told in third person, but Jared is the “window character.”
I really should call it a night at this point, especially since I will likely read for a bit before falling asleep.
I wish you all safe weather, be it rain or shine, day or night. Maybe a good, rousing storm or two, if you enjoy them, like I do. May you receive whatever weather you most enjoy, in abundance, with enough of its opposite to only heighten your appreciation.
BUT… I must away, to bed, and to Lost Souls. Good night!
All the Bright and Sparkly Things 
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