16 - shall not harm

[no_fastolfe]

[Private to Hannibal]
Doctor, I can only conclude that you did not recognize the Repo agent who murdered you. My apologies are useless but I extend them nevertheless. I do not ask for your forgiveness because it was not a forgivable act.




[Private to Chromie]
Madame Chromie, I will be absent from work for two days.

What I did in port was an obscenity and I cannot express my remorse in any terms I know. I am sorry.



[Private to Dracula]
As terrifying as you were, sir; in trying to save me you were more humane than I was. It was too late. But I am grateful that you tried.

Comments

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

But I was misanthropic to exclusion-- no matter how gentle you were, I would have seen you as an enemy.

[A sigh]

Oh Count. If I ever leave this ship how will I do without my friends?

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[nolongerhollow]

I have already decided how. I will stay here and work--earn the ability to visit people in their own worlds after I graduate. We don't have to say goodbye forever.

[His eyes twinkle briefly.] Besides, I'd love to have more of those grapes.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[Life is starting to seem slightly less hopeless already-- as her friends stabilize her, draw her away from the horrible memories. There will be more tears, more panic, in the odd quiet moments-- but she gets stronger, bit by bit. It will be all right.]

We may be a conservative planet, stagnating in the long untested certainty of our own superiority-- but our grapes are wonderful.

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[nolongerhollow]

Bah, I cannot imagine that any world or society exists that does not have its problems.

[A hesitation.]

My own must be rebuilt from the ground up. It is why I read so much. History, sociology, politics...studying systems and groups. Considering what sort of society I wish, how to rule it, and how we are to coexist with humans....

Though to be honest... [A slightly sheepish look] the last consideration only entered into my thoughts perhaps five months ago.

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[no_fastolfe]

[She looks into the fire]

I might have said the same of Earthers, and more recently besides.

You mean to rule, then? [There's no judgement to that; they are both creatures of ambition.]

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[nolongerhollow]

Not the humans. The invisible kingdom of the vampires. My children and their descendants. Whom I...must treat as a proper sire, one who teaches and leads instead of depending on bonds of the blood.

[The teakettle starts boiling and he moves past her to take it off the swing-arm, not bothering with a hot pad. He pours the tea and drops the ball in, then replaces the kettle, quietly thoughtful as he does so.]

But first I must learn how, and earn under the Admiral certain...adjustments...to our race that will help us to coexist.

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[no_fastolfe]

I hope it can be so. That there might be a family, that you might not be made to feel so excluded-- as I know you have.

You are a good man. I think you will be a good father. [A careful judgment, fathers being difficult to her in any form.]

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[nolongerhollow]

Perhaps. I shall at least be one who makes the effort. [He gazes down into the teacup.] I am immortal. I have time to grow my family slowly and with care.

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[no_fastolfe]

Immortality...

[She sighs softly.]

I do not know what I should do with it. Humanity was not designed for it, I think. You will manage, however. I believe it.

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[nolongerhollow]

Learn, create, and do not stop doing either. Otherwise one gets bored, jaded, emotionally shut down. [He pulls out the tea ball and passes the mug over.] And keep friends. Here you are.

Spam

[no_fastolfe]

[She smiles, inhaling the tea deeply, relaxing more than she has since she came in.]

Thank you. For a great deal more than the tea.

Spam

[nolongerhollow]

[He finds a lump in his throat and has to swallow it, blinking a bit at himself.]

You are...welcome.