[VIDEO]; UN: Sleepwalker

[thegreatexperiment]

[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.]

Comments

[thegreatexperiment]

[It's a truly underwhelming response, but then again, the guy likes to make his food float.

Anyway, it's not like Sam is yearning for torches and pitchforks here. She can deal with someone being as thoroughly unimpressed as she was with his magic. Or something.

She shrugs, a few curls slipping over her shoulder.]

Now you have. Congrats?

[siriuslydementd]

So tell me. What is it that you can do?

[thegreatexperiment]

[Dryly:]

Well. I can roll my tongue. And recite pi up to a hundred digits. And I’m really good at singing Taylor Swift.

But I’m guessing that isn’t what you were looking for.

[siriuslydementd]

[He only knows what one of those things is, but they can come back to that later.]

It's not. Seeing as I showed you mine.

[thegreatexperiment]

[There's another biting comment on the tip of her tongue but...okay, yeah, he's got a point there.

She frowns a little, then holds up one hand. Her nail polish is black and chipped. But that's academic, when suddenly, five long, sharp talons shoot out of her fingertips.]

I'm really good at giving haircuts.

[siriuslydementd]

If I ever need one, I'll keep you in mind.

[thegreatexperiment]

If?

[She's teasing a little, this time. Sam digs guys with long hair.

But he does look a little like an Ozzy Osbourn cosplayer.]

[siriuslydementd]

That's what I said.

[Long hair isn't unusual among wizards, but mostly he wears it that way because he knows how much it would have annoyed his mother.]

[thegreatexperiment]

Okay. Fair.

[And she manages half a smile. At least he's not getting all torches-and-pitchforks on her ass.]

[siriuslydementd]

So. Haircuts. Is that the only thing you can do?

[thegreatexperiment]

[She glances at her claws.]

No. But I'm not a huge fan of the other things these babies can do.

I tend to avoid...all of that.

[siriuslydementd]

[Understandable. He's not a fan of those unpleasant sorts of things either.]

Is it just those, or can you transform other things too?

[thegreatexperiment]

What? Like a bat?

[She shakes her head.]

Not so much.

[siriuslydementd]

I meant like is it just fingernails into claws, or is there more?

[thegreatexperiment]

[She frowns thoughtfully.]

Never tried my toes, but that would probably work.

[A small sigh.]

And there are the teeth, I guess.

[siriuslydementd]

It's a similar concept, at least.

Teeth, of course. You wouldn't be a very good vampire without those.

[thegreatexperiment]

"Good vampire." Kind of a difficult turn of phrase to swallow, isn't it?

[siriuslydementd]

Is it? I've never met one before. I don't know what makes a good one or a bad one.

[thegreatexperiment]

I don't know. I've met a lot.

Most of us are dicks.

[siriuslydementd]

Well so far you're doing a good job of representing the type.

[thegreatexperiment]

I'm not sure I am.

[She lets out a frustrated sigh. It's rare that Sam, shows this kind of vulnerability, but this situation is just so...much.]

Any other vampire from my world would probably kill me for this whole conversation.

[siriuslydementd]

Just for talking about vampires? [A pause.] I know the type. [He's related to some.]

I'm not supposed to talk about the existence of magic and wizards, either. [But he doesn't really care what the Ministry thinks right now. Not that they can do anything about it in a place where they don't exist.]

[thegreatexperiment]

There are lots of reason why that makes sense. For wizards or vampires.

Which kind of sucks for all the normal people out there who don't have a clue how they're being manipulated and controlled.

[siriuslydementd]

I didn't say it doesn't make sense. [He's just not the type to pay much attention to rules.]

Could they do anything about it even if they did know?

[thegreatexperiment]

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