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justprompts - Perspective
Aug. 9th, 2009 10:06 pmEvery so often, I run across a stranger that isn't immediately scared of me. (Which is kinda refreshing, not gonna lie.)
I remember this young lady...she was probably 17 or so...who got close enough to notice I what I was and said to me, "Oh cool! You're a vampire. Unless...you wanna eat me. In that case," she added with a gulp, "Not cool...."
I assured her I didn't and then asked, "May I ask what you think is so cool about being a vampire?"
She want on about some book she was reading about some vampire school or something and spoke about how it seemed neat to be one and be so special and whatnot. I stopped her right there and said, "Allow me to offer you some perspective on the lifestyle, okay?"
I received a puzzled nod in reply.
"Let's start out with the minor stuff. You're not independently wealthy, are ya?"
She shook her head.
"Well darling, then that means if you want to continue to have a roof over your head, you're gonna have to work to pay the bills."
"What if I just live in the woods or something?" she asked.
I snickered.
"What?" she asked, a bit annoyed.
"You'd wanna be without electricity and indoor plumbing?" I challenged.
The teenager thought for a moment and wriggled her nose. "Not...really."
"I didn't think so. And if you wanna keep that stuff, you need to find work. Something with a night shift since you can't survive sunlight for more than...oh, five minutes? I've heard it's five, but never chanced it. I tested the sunlight thing for about 30 seconds once and it felt like my hand was in boiling water. Not fun, let me assure ya."
She winced.
I continued, "And technically since you're immortal, you can never retire. Of course, I'd actually still have to work now even if I was still mortal."
The young lady tilted her head and asked, "How old are you?"
There was a noticeable grumble in my voice as I replied, "Forty-five. I, unlike so many of the fictional vampires you read about, got turned in my forties instead of my twenties. I've been stuck like this for two and half years now."
"Well...why did you become one in the first place?"
"I didn't have a choice. I was cornered by these two vampires when I was attempting to change a flat tire. One of them took" I stopped and then made air quotes as I finished the sentence with "pity on me." Stopping the air quotes, I added with annoyance, "There are days when I wish she didn't, let me tell ya."
This time the teenager blinked in surprise.
"Anything else you wanna know?" I asked. But before she could answer, I stated, "In case you were wondering, no, I don't corner innocent people to calm the blood lust. I don't get why some folks think attacking people would be fun. Probably those that want to have no fucking conscience - pardon my French."
"Well...that's good to know," was the timid reply I received. "But how do you...you know...get the blood and stuff?"
In a lowered voice, I uncomfortably explained, "I have a cousin that knows an embalmer so sometimes-"
I noticed the lady looked a bit nauseous already so I stopped myself from giving any further details. I quickly continued, "I'm not proud! I just...you know...desperate times and all. I don't always go that route. I also will use some animal blood too. There are butcher shops that actually sell it. It works, just not as well."
The young lady looked like she was about to throw up right then and there.
"If that made you green, I can tell you're not cut out for this sort of thing. I'm kinda glad, honestly. I really wouldn't want you to be begging me to turn you. Cuz trust me, even if you still were intrigued, I wouldn't. You spend too much time being thought of as a monster and, at least while those you know are still alive, you feel kinda stuck between your mortal and immortal existences. It's not something I'd want anyone else to go through, let me tell you."
"Well...um...tha-that's a lot to...consider? And...a...um, unique perspective," was the uncertain reply I received.
"Every word I said is the truth."
"Um...thank you? I should get going now...I think."
I gave her a little pat on her shoulder. "Take care of yourself, darling."
"Thanks. You...too." And with that, the young lady headed off.
Muse: Terrence Allenby
Fandom: Original Character
Word Count: 754
I remember this young lady...she was probably 17 or so...who got close enough to notice I what I was and said to me, "Oh cool! You're a vampire. Unless...you wanna eat me. In that case," she added with a gulp, "Not cool...."
I assured her I didn't and then asked, "May I ask what you think is so cool about being a vampire?"
She want on about some book she was reading about some vampire school or something and spoke about how it seemed neat to be one and be so special and whatnot. I stopped her right there and said, "Allow me to offer you some perspective on the lifestyle, okay?"
I received a puzzled nod in reply.
"Let's start out with the minor stuff. You're not independently wealthy, are ya?"
She shook her head.
"Well darling, then that means if you want to continue to have a roof over your head, you're gonna have to work to pay the bills."
"What if I just live in the woods or something?" she asked.
I snickered.
"What?" she asked, a bit annoyed.
"You'd wanna be without electricity and indoor plumbing?" I challenged.
The teenager thought for a moment and wriggled her nose. "Not...really."
"I didn't think so. And if you wanna keep that stuff, you need to find work. Something with a night shift since you can't survive sunlight for more than...oh, five minutes? I've heard it's five, but never chanced it. I tested the sunlight thing for about 30 seconds once and it felt like my hand was in boiling water. Not fun, let me assure ya."
She winced.
I continued, "And technically since you're immortal, you can never retire. Of course, I'd actually still have to work now even if I was still mortal."
The young lady tilted her head and asked, "How old are you?"
There was a noticeable grumble in my voice as I replied, "Forty-five. I, unlike so many of the fictional vampires you read about, got turned in my forties instead of my twenties. I've been stuck like this for two and half years now."
"Well...why did you become one in the first place?"
"I didn't have a choice. I was cornered by these two vampires when I was attempting to change a flat tire. One of them took" I stopped and then made air quotes as I finished the sentence with "pity on me." Stopping the air quotes, I added with annoyance, "There are days when I wish she didn't, let me tell ya."
This time the teenager blinked in surprise.
"Anything else you wanna know?" I asked. But before she could answer, I stated, "In case you were wondering, no, I don't corner innocent people to calm the blood lust. I don't get why some folks think attacking people would be fun. Probably those that want to have no fucking conscience - pardon my French."
"Well...that's good to know," was the timid reply I received. "But how do you...you know...get the blood and stuff?"
In a lowered voice, I uncomfortably explained, "I have a cousin that knows an embalmer so sometimes-"
I noticed the lady looked a bit nauseous already so I stopped myself from giving any further details. I quickly continued, "I'm not proud! I just...you know...desperate times and all. I don't always go that route. I also will use some animal blood too. There are butcher shops that actually sell it. It works, just not as well."
The young lady looked like she was about to throw up right then and there.
"If that made you green, I can tell you're not cut out for this sort of thing. I'm kinda glad, honestly. I really wouldn't want you to be begging me to turn you. Cuz trust me, even if you still were intrigued, I wouldn't. You spend too much time being thought of as a monster and, at least while those you know are still alive, you feel kinda stuck between your mortal and immortal existences. It's not something I'd want anyone else to go through, let me tell you."
"Well...um...tha-that's a lot to...consider? And...a...um, unique perspective," was the uncertain reply I received.
"Every word I said is the truth."
"Um...thank you? I should get going now...I think."
I gave her a little pat on her shoulder. "Take care of yourself, darling."
"Thanks. You...too." And with that, the young lady headed off.
Muse: Terrence Allenby
Fandom: Original Character
Word Count: 754
