Post by Carlisle Cullen on Oct 22, 2009 7:45:46 GMT -5
Carlisle watched for Edward’s reactions carefully as he explained in painstaking detail just how impervious their species was to death, making sure that he wasn’t pushing the boy that step too far. However, as he realised that he was managing to process most of the information without uncontrolled outbursts of emotion, Carlisle was impressed. It would be hard to take in for anybody, but it seemed that overloading this boy’s mind with information just made it work harder to understand, despite his no-doubt raging emotions. Therefore, when Edward did ask his question, Carlisle took his time over making sure that he gave the most honest and correct answer that he could.
“Because by that point,” he began, with a serene smile, ruminating over how happy he was with his life now, with the exception of the penetrating loneliness. “I had discovered that I didn’t have to be the fairytale villain, or some gothic nightmare. How is drinking animal blood so different from eating venison? I had proved that I could function just as well as my colleagues, who still drank from humans. It was uncomfortable, almost unbearable at the beginning, but I had begun to discover that I could function around humans without succumbing to my baser instincts and, finally, I knew that I could do things to help with my abilities… which is what led to my pursuit of medical science.”
He looked confidently over to the newborn, instilling a forthright confidence in him. He knew that it was possible for anyone with the will to commit themselves to vegetarianism, even if it did seem impossible at first. “No one would expect you to go through this on your own, and no one would expect you to be perfect, either. You’re already on the right path by even feeling guilty about what your nature now expects of you, so just keep on walking. I promise it’ll get easier over time. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for – your mother knew that.”
Carlisle couldn’t stop himself from chuckling a little at the mention of coffins, though his thoughts reflected that it was a good-natured, not a mocking mirth. Having been a vampire for so long, over two centuries, he often forgot the common conceptions that humans had. Dracula had only been published twenty-one years previously, and whilst Stoker’s theories of vampirism (from whatever source, is any) had become common tender, Carlisle had not indulged in them yet.
“I’m afraid that is a misnomer,” he stated. “We don’t actually sleep at all and seen as we’re still using our bodies, no one ever buys us coffins. You’re right, though. It is a bit of an odd contradiction. I use my skills to help people at the hospital, where they are glad of my abilities and so will tolerate a little social discomfort.”
He paused, always allowing time for the newborn to process before adding more to what he had to cope with. “Talking to humans is usually fine, though they can be a little wary of us by instinct, but I find that just being nice usually works wonders. Plus, being around humans is a little difficult for us. You probably haven’t noticed, but other than talking you haven’t moved a muscle in our entire conversation and I mean a single muscle,” he paused once more, shifting in a naturally human way, a habit he had long since picked up in his line of work.
“Humans fidget all the time – they can’t help it, their muscles get tired. Our muscles never tire, ever. We don’t need to blink, or sit down; we never even have a scratch to itch. The responses might be automatic in a human, but they notice when someone doesn’t move at all, which means that all the time that we’re with humans, we need to actively remember to blink and shift our weight,” he stopped his human-like fidgeting, holding still in a perfectly natural feeling, but statue-like position to show Edward how obvious it was. “Otherwise they tend to notice that something is off. And that is why it’s easier to stay away from having a full, active social life with them.”
Carlisle’s smiled brightened a little as Edward took his hand and shook it cordially. He knew that there was no way that this boy was absolutely reassured, but was satisfied that at least he wasn’t so overwhelmed as he was when he awoke into this new life. “And you won’t be,” he told the younger vampire, his tone and thoughts matching in confidence. “It’s all about knowing what opportunities you have and what choices you’re free to make. I have every confidence in you.”
“Because by that point,” he began, with a serene smile, ruminating over how happy he was with his life now, with the exception of the penetrating loneliness. “I had discovered that I didn’t have to be the fairytale villain, or some gothic nightmare. How is drinking animal blood so different from eating venison? I had proved that I could function just as well as my colleagues, who still drank from humans. It was uncomfortable, almost unbearable at the beginning, but I had begun to discover that I could function around humans without succumbing to my baser instincts and, finally, I knew that I could do things to help with my abilities… which is what led to my pursuit of medical science.”
He looked confidently over to the newborn, instilling a forthright confidence in him. He knew that it was possible for anyone with the will to commit themselves to vegetarianism, even if it did seem impossible at first. “No one would expect you to go through this on your own, and no one would expect you to be perfect, either. You’re already on the right path by even feeling guilty about what your nature now expects of you, so just keep on walking. I promise it’ll get easier over time. You’re stronger than you give yourself credit for – your mother knew that.”
Carlisle couldn’t stop himself from chuckling a little at the mention of coffins, though his thoughts reflected that it was a good-natured, not a mocking mirth. Having been a vampire for so long, over two centuries, he often forgot the common conceptions that humans had. Dracula had only been published twenty-one years previously, and whilst Stoker’s theories of vampirism (from whatever source, is any) had become common tender, Carlisle had not indulged in them yet.
“I’m afraid that is a misnomer,” he stated. “We don’t actually sleep at all and seen as we’re still using our bodies, no one ever buys us coffins. You’re right, though. It is a bit of an odd contradiction. I use my skills to help people at the hospital, where they are glad of my abilities and so will tolerate a little social discomfort.”
He paused, always allowing time for the newborn to process before adding more to what he had to cope with. “Talking to humans is usually fine, though they can be a little wary of us by instinct, but I find that just being nice usually works wonders. Plus, being around humans is a little difficult for us. You probably haven’t noticed, but other than talking you haven’t moved a muscle in our entire conversation and I mean a single muscle,” he paused once more, shifting in a naturally human way, a habit he had long since picked up in his line of work.
“Humans fidget all the time – they can’t help it, their muscles get tired. Our muscles never tire, ever. We don’t need to blink, or sit down; we never even have a scratch to itch. The responses might be automatic in a human, but they notice when someone doesn’t move at all, which means that all the time that we’re with humans, we need to actively remember to blink and shift our weight,” he stopped his human-like fidgeting, holding still in a perfectly natural feeling, but statue-like position to show Edward how obvious it was. “Otherwise they tend to notice that something is off. And that is why it’s easier to stay away from having a full, active social life with them.”
Carlisle’s smiled brightened a little as Edward took his hand and shook it cordially. He knew that there was no way that this boy was absolutely reassured, but was satisfied that at least he wasn’t so overwhelmed as he was when he awoke into this new life. “And you won’t be,” he told the younger vampire, his tone and thoughts matching in confidence. “It’s all about knowing what opportunities you have and what choices you’re free to make. I have every confidence in you.”