XLII--video;

[breakmychest]

Been a lot of talk around here about vampires lately. It's time I added my two cents.

[Spike is sitting on the arm of the chair in his room, looking pretty calm. He's thought a little bit about what to say, and... well, he probably won't say anything remotely like what he's got planned, so it's time to start talking.]

Now as a lot of you probably know, I'm a vampire. I've never hid it. Before you start hiding your young and locking your doors with garlic or whatever, you should know, I'm a warden, I'm a hero, and I don't eat people. [He pauses for a moment and frowns.] Also, garlic doesn't work on my sort of vampire, so, you know, waste of time.

But what I am now doesn't change what I've done, and it doesn't change what a vampire is. There's a reason legends paint us as blood sucking monsters. [He shifts his features, letting his fangs slide out and his forehead wrinkle up. He's a lot less pretty this way.] Now, of course, I know the sort of vampire from my world best, and I'm sure there's some dimension where the vampires are sparkly lightweights that only drink dewdrops, but that's the exception. In most dimensions, you'd be hard pressed to find a vampire that hasn't killed before. I've killed before. Never hid that either. Probably killed more than most of the inmates here, seeing as I had over a century to do it. [He shakes his head, human features coming back to the front.]

That's not who I am anymore. Certain girl made me see the world a bit differently. That's a long story that I'm not getting into now, but I went from one of the worst to one of the best. Really, one of only two good ones. [A beat. Spike can't help but be competitive about Angel.] And for the record, I'm loads better than he is. And unlike him I chose this. He was cursed!

So why am I telling you all this? I don't know. Sodding Dracula, probably. Point I'm trying to make is that thinking vampires are evil killers isn't really being bigoted or anything, but like anyone here, they can change. If they want it hard enough. And, of course, they have to acknowledge what they are as well.

[He shrugs and smirks, looking all too pleased with himself.] Then again, maybe not. After all, I am really bloody special.

Comments

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

I have some questions pertaining to vampires. Would you mind answering them? [Give him a cookie for trying to understand. Motivated by both this, and Dracula managing not to eat him during a flood.]

[Private]

[bigbad]

Depending on what they are, yeah, all right.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

After you're turned, do you consider yourself a different being than you were when you were human?

[Private]

[bigbad]

Well, yeah, of course. Vampires and humans are different beasts entirely. One's got fangs, you know.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

Understandable, but I didn't know how much of one's former life still dictated their actions.

[Private]

[bigbad]

Oh, that sort of being. Well, you've still got all your memories, all your feelings and such, but you're missing a soul, so it's... different. Twisted. You're you minus all those pesky inhibitions and moral hold-ups you once had.

I guess what I'm saying is, you're still the same person, but the human isn't you.

[Private]

[truth_is_cold]

Did you have a choice when you became a vampire?

[Private]

[bigbad]

[That's a complicated question. He had, after all, told Drusilla yes, and he hadn't really put up anything resembling a fight, but he hadn't known what he was signing up for, and she might still have done it if he'd said no. Or maybe she'd have just killed him.]

Not really. Some people do, some don't. It all depends on the vampire.

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

A hero. I swear, your ego seems to grow with every word that you say.

[bigbad]

Not ego, mate. Fact. It's a thing. Title, you know? I've worked bloody hard for it.

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

That's ridiculous. Being a 'hero' isn't a title.

[bigbad]

Is where I'm from. And I qualify.

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

Where are you from?

[bigbad]

...right, you do know I mean my dimension, not just my city or town, don't you? Because I know we're not from the same world, and answering Los Angeles or London just isn't going to clear things up for you.

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

I'm aware. Given the fact that you claim to be a vampire, I assumed that you were from another dimension, which negated the need for the Gotham test.

[bigbad]

The Gotham test?

[doctor-j-crane.livejournal.com]

In your universe, does Gotham city exist?

[failedcreator.livejournal.com]

How can you be the best, as you say, while remaining a creature of the night?

[bigbad]

Well, bedtime's still around 6 AM. [Except... when it's not. He has the weirdest sleeping hours.] Being good doesn't change what I am. Just makes me more than just it.

[failedcreator.livejournal.com]

I do not understand your reasoning. You cannot change what you are, despite your level of goodness.

[bigbad]

...run that by me again, mate? How's that any different from what I just said?

[failedcreator.livejournal.com]

You remain a beast by your nature. Behaviour cannot change this fact.

[bigbad]

I'm not a beast. I'm a demon. It's different.

[failedcreator.livejournal.com]

You wish to be known by a viler name?

[bigbad]

It's not viler. It's what I am. And beasts generally aren't all that smart.