Procrastination doesnt make things go away

Connie nodded, offering the motion as a response to Nyra's questions about what clans provide. "And then some. For new vampires - which, admittedly, are rare - it's difficult enough to survive for a number of reasons. Clans help you get on your feet, help you to learn how to reintegrate into society with your new handicaps... And yes, being unable to go out into sunlight for an extended period of time is a handicap. But food is a slightly different matter. A lot of older vampires - those older than myself included - need to eat progressively less as they age. When I first changed, I needed to feed daily, but I'm down to once every ten days or so." She shrugged. "It really is different for each vampire. We do not need to kill to feed... A typical feeding is just one pint - the same as a single blood donation for the Red Cross - sufficient to carry us to the next. Injury and the like wears us down, so we'd need to search sooner. If I get stupid and get stuck in the sun, and hence burnt, I might need to get a bit more. Like when you and I met. I had been in the sun for a few seconds too long and I started to get a sun burn. The sores and abrasions had healed to the point of looking like a really bad true to the beach human sun burn by the time I'd gotten home and up the stairs, but I'd needed to eat a couple extra times that week to recupe." Connie pursed her lips as she continued, "We can starve, yes, but it takes quite some time, and from what I've heard is not very appealing as a choice to 'go out.'" Shuddering from her spine to her neck and back down, Connie's head twitched a little at the fear of starving.

While the familiar lover in her wanted to joke, 'No, love, I've never bitten you with my fangs,' or 'I've eaten you quite a bit, love, but not as a meal,' she realized that, in Nyra's current mental and emotional roller coaster state, such gutter-minded bedroom jocularity would send her into a nosedive and end any fruitful discussion. Instead she answered, "No, Nyra, I've never bitten you. You would have noticed it; though the bite would have healed quickly the experience is... quite unique. And yes, I do usually partake of human blood. It's more... physiologically nurturing." "Physiologically nurturing? Shit-on-a-stick, Stone, you sound like a vitamin commercial." It was, she realized however, less likely to freak her out about Connie's admission to partaking of human blood.

Nyra sat blinking excessively at the information overload. People did eat animals so she had to simply associate Connie as a carnivore even if her food was well, human. But then she said she did not kill, unlike people that eat steak, her meal could walk away just fine. Thinking of it that way made the vampire more humane than humans eating meat.

The relief she felt at Connie's admission of never bitting her was huge and she had not even realized she had placed so much importance on it until that moment. It made sense and in some ways made it easier to live with. Her lover had never chewed on her for sustinance even though she could provide and walk away fine. That was reassuring in a basic sort of way.

"Thank you. That is good to know you have never bitten me without my consent or awareness. It shows you have an amazingly honorable character. The fact that vampires dont kill to eat but humans do also strikes me as a good thing."

Blindly she looked at the almost full plate of chocolates she had gathered earlier. This conversation was not easy but it was turning out better than she anticipated. Vampires existed but were not the monsters popular media portrayed them as. She just may be able to live with this conciously now.

"Wow. Thank you so much Connie for your open and honest answers. This is helping me move from denial to acceptance. I'm sorry I have been ignoring this for so long."

Connie felt as if a weight had been removed from her shoulders when the look of relief came over Nyra's face, when her lover thanked and complimented her. She had the grace to feel embarassed at the praise for not feeding from the artist, ears burning and cheeks warm, she nodded at the further comments. She caught the woman's glance to the mostly full plate of chocolates and quirked a quick smile before those wonderful hazel orbs turned back to her. "I want you to be comfortable with me, Nyra. You're the best thing to happen to me in a century. That may sound cliche... Well if cliches were really measured in triple digit year amounts... I just want you to know that anything you want to ask, I will answer. I'd prefer if you did it at home, or when we're in private, but ask me any time, and I'll do my best to remember and answer when I can."

The vampire reached out to place a soft hand alongside Nyra's cheek. Caressing gently with her thumb, she commented, "You haven't been ignoring it, love. You've been processing something new and strange. I completely understand, believe me." She hoped her honest and blunt sincerity was plain in all she had said to Nyra, and promised herself that if she thought of anything Nyra might need to know, she'd bring it up.

Nyra felt so much when Connie returned her thanks and understanding. Tilting her head into her partners hand she sighed, happy to have so much out in the open now. Moving on the couch to snuggle against Connie she was content. Finally things were making some sense in her mind and she could live with that. Sure down the road she might have other questions but now that she had been reassured those could come whenever.

"Lets clean up and go to bed, I want to snuggle in your arms for a while and as comfortable as this couch is, I dont think here is the place."

The two women hugged and went about clean up eagerly, both anticipating some quality time together now that they were past some hurdles.

((Both out with permission. Please Lock))