[Full stop; he winces. A faint shudder goes through him.]
Not a year ago I would have told him to be grateful. That he was lucky to be given such a gift and he should simply accept it. But how terrifying to be taken against one's will! And...it is a practice I have heard of over and over again. It is...it is the norm for vampires. Being wicked and cruel seems to be the norm for vampires the multiverse over. The right to choose otherwise might be there but it is largely ignored. We might have the same moral capacity as humans, but vampire culture again and again turns out to be...
...evil.
Oh my God.
[The look of creeping horror in his eyes was not just for Ed; he blinked and then forcibly composed himself.]
I wasn't speaking of that. I was referring to the demonic pact. Never truck with demons or devils, Ed, it's no good for anyone involved.
But since you brought it up...I don't do that anymore. If someone is with me I want them there because they chose it.
[A tilt of his head.] Can you drink shallowly without conversion? [We'll ignore your calling humans "Food", Ed, cause you don't know better yet.] I ask because having a donor or two aboard can make one's stay here much more tolerable.
[He nods grimly.] The first few months you will be thirsty all the time, because your body is still changing in minute ways. It will be difficult not to hunt humans. I may have to supplement you. [Besides which he is wondering if enough of his blood will give Ed access to some of his abilities.]
[spam]
Not a year ago I would have told him to be grateful. That he was lucky to be given such a gift and he should simply accept it. But how terrifying to be taken against one's will! And...it is a practice I have heard of over and over again. It is...it is the norm for vampires. Being wicked and cruel seems to be the norm for vampires the multiverse over. The right to choose otherwise might be there but it is largely ignored. We might have the same moral capacity as humans, but vampire culture again and again turns out to be...
...evil.
Oh my God.
[The look of creeping horror in his eyes was not just for Ed; he blinked and then forcibly composed himself.]
I wasn't speaking of that. I was referring to the demonic pact. Never truck with demons or devils, Ed, it's no good for anyone involved.
But since you brought it up...I don't do that anymore. If someone is with me I want them there because they chose it.
[A tilt of his head.] Can you drink shallowly without conversion? [We'll ignore your calling humans "Food", Ed, cause you don't know better yet.] I ask because having a donor or two aboard can make one's stay here much more tolerable.
[He nods grimly.] The first few months you will be thirsty all the time, because your body is still changing in minute ways. It will be difficult not to hunt humans. I may have to supplement you. [Besides which he is wondering if enough of his blood will give Ed access to some of his abilities.]