iterumnetwork | [VIDEO]; UN: Sleepwalker

[Despite the fact that Sam has no fucks to give, the artistic eye will appreciate the fact that she's gone out of her way to frame the shot. She's sitting at her kitchen table--a strange Formica beige with glittering pieces of plastic stuck in it, like sparkles in a hospital corridor. She's just off center, so as to keep things interesting. Behind her is her window from the Tower, overlooking the City.

Sam looks young. She also looks a bit like she was Photoshopped; perfect skin, bright eyes, plastic hair. Well, the skin was genetically engineered, her eyes are just blue, and her hair is, in fact, plastic. Mostly, though, Sam just looks tired. Obviously, the last month has been rough on everyone. What with a sentient (?) city abducting them all. It just doesn't help that she's still not over some of the bullshit that she was in the middle of back home.

For a second, she taps her fingertips to an empty coffee mug, black and chipped nail polish flashing a little in the light. Then she clears her throat to speak, in a surprisingly mild, Midwestern accent.]

Okay, so. Here's the deal. I'm like all of you. Like you, I was kidnapped and dropped in the middle of this fu...in the middle of this city. Like you, I'm pretty done with these demons or whatever else prowling the streets. Like you, I just want to get by. Like you, I'm working on figuring out a life and job and all of...that. I'm like you.

But here's the thing. I'm not like everyone. I'm a fu...vampire. I'm a vampire. And before you start freaking the...freaking out or whatever, let me make something clear to you: While I drink blood, I don't want yours. Okay? I'm not going to jump anyone in an alley. I'm not violent, I'm not dangerous, I'm not a murderer.

[She presses her lips together for a moment in a hard line. Obviously, this is very important to her. And she's rehearsed the speech a number of times. One can tell by the way she's stopped herself from swearing. This is the part where she kind of goes off script, though. Which becomes obvious from the passion that starts to seep into her voice.]

Everyone is always telling me that I need to keep it a secret, you know? I need to shut the fuck up and keep my head down and stay out of trouble. I've followed the fucking rules, toed the damn company line or whatever. And it's complete bullshit. I mean, forgetting the fact that people have a fucking right to know that there are vampires out there...come on! We're in a magical kidnapping city. With demons walking around! I dare any of you to tell me this is the weirdest thing you've heard in the last month.

[Whoa. Okay, time to slow down. Sam pauses, taking a deep breath, getting a hold of herself.]

Fuck. Look. I just. There's no point to being secretive about it. And if you don't want anything to do with me or whatever, your choice.

Also, if there are any vampires listening to this, you're welcome to keep yourself secret or whatever. If you're actually able to do it, mazel tov, you're better than I am or whatever. But don't even think about trying to take me out for doing this. It's not going to make a damn difference.

[A small pause.]

Oh. Right. My name is Sam. And...that's all, I guess.

[She reaches over and shuts off the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Humans? Well, they'd know that turtlenecks were a smart fashion choice.

Are they too much of a hindrance to your goal?

[She sighs.]

I just don't think it's fair. That humans don't know we're lurking out there. That sometimes someone's lover or daughter or best friend disappear and there's never any explanation.

They deserve an explanation.

You're right, they do.

I know it's not exactly the same, but there's a...I suppose he's a man, even if he doesn't seem much like one anymore. He's got these ideas about the purity of blood and wizards being superior to Muggles. It's bollocks, but he's got a group of people who all agree with him, most of my family among them. During the last war, they would find Muggle families and toy with them before killing them, and the Ministry -- they're the ones who make the laws about wizards -- would cover it up and wipe the memories of anyone who may have seen something suspicious. There's nothing the Muggles could have done if they'd known, but at least they'd know that there's a threat out there. That they should get out of England while they can.

[This? This is the reason Sam supported dropping the Masquerade. It's utter bullshit.

And there's a fire in her eyes as she speaks.]

Exactly. I'd rather know about the threat than not know.

Everyone at the Ministry seems to have their heads stuck up their arses anyway.

This is going to turn into a war like the last one, or worse, before they'll even acknowledge that it's a problem.

Yeah. I'm intimately familiar wit that kind of situation.

It pretty much destroyed my world.

Me, too.

[Not mine, too because while there had been an obvious effect on the wizarding world, including more than one child left orphaned, wizards still existed. The world had picked up the pieces and gone on. The effects of the war on him personally had been more profound, and only the thought of his innocence had kept him from going mad.]

Well. That sucks.

[Because, what else can you say? It does suck.]

It does. I don't think anything's going to change though.

Not there.

But we can play by different rules here.

I've never really been one for rules anyway.

[...]

Agreed.

It's more fun that way.

And better for the soul. If you believe in that kind of thing.

I've never really considered it that way before.

Well, when you have all of eternity stretching out in front of you, you can get some pretty weird thoughts going.

[She makes a dismissive wave.]

Never mind. Anyway, thanks for not, like hating me or anything.