Marlene's POV:
Although she did see my house for a second yesterday, I still feel anxious about Lydia seeing it now. A 235 year old's home is expected to have a... maximalist interior; trinkets and bric a brac that I've collected over the centuries has collected up even when I donate bags on bags regularly. I don't know where it comes from. I unlock the door and let Lydia in, her eyes immediately tracing around the room, soaking the new atmosphere.
Cleaning- well more like clearing the room is a fun task. Lydia plays her songs. It amazes me that quite a few of these songs I've heard before, from goth clubs I went to in the 80s.
Of course this makes me feel old, but then I remember I AM old. Possibly too old for this young creature. Vampires are supposed to date people their human age, well they're supposed to date other vampires who have the same human age. Dating non-vampires is uncommon as it ends in heartbreak, celibacy and a really young granny looking human with a really old 20 year old vampire. It's weird. But I'm not thinking into the future when I think about Lydia. I don't want to, I would go so far as to say I couldn't face it. I know she wants more than what I can give her.
I hadn't noticed we had finished moving my belongings to the highest floor until now. Lydia wipes her forehead with the back of her hand and says
Lydia: You reckon we deserve a movie night?
I do own a TV; a modern tv too. The television has been around for 100 or so years, it's not as if I'm unfamiliar with them. I haven't taken down the tv or the couch as that requires work neither of us can frankly be bothered with right now. We sit together under a blanket and skim what's on netflix and so on.
Marlene: How about a scary one?
Lydia: I can't do scary ones.
Marlene: What do you mean you can't, you look like an Addams and you're watching a movie with a literal vampire. I did not get that assumption of you.
Lydia: I just can't do creepy okay? Or jumpscares.
Marlene: Well now we're watching a horror.
We're nearing the end of IT and she's scared shitless. But God do I love it. She's lying on top of me facing the tv, using her hand that's placed on my collarbone as a place to rest her head. She's not exactly doing it for warmth; I'm a corpse, a cadaver, a carcass. I'd hazard a hopeful guess it's because she wants to be close to me. I'd long forgotten what human touch felt like in all honesty. It amazes me every time her body moves with her breath; in and out, in and out. It's truly beautiful. She's beautiful.
And 8 billion people do this every day. Wow.
Lydia: What's being dead like?
I laugh.
Marlene: And I thought I was the mind reader.
Lydia: You can read minds?
She had jumped up suddenly to look at me.
Marlene: No I'm joking, why, what's goes on in your head?
Lydia: Nothing.
Marlene: Hm. Being dead's fine I suppose. There's a lot of things you humans take for granted though.
Lydia: Do you know what's after death?
Marlene: No, not in the non-vampire sense. Why?
Lydia: My dad died when I was little, and I guess I always thought I knew nothing paranormal existed. No ghosts or spirits watching over me or anything, no paradise in heaven for him. I spent so long searching for a better answer for him but I saw nothing, I found nothing. I just wanted to know if you knew anything, since you're like you know.
Marlene: Yeah. I don't know anything about death if you put it like that, but I've seen a lot of death in my time and I can tell you one thing. Being at peace with the earth sounds inexplicably better than being alive forever. Your dad had done his time and not a minute more, that's the best option. I'm jealous of every human I've seen go through the process of life. Modern beauty standards that you've been raised with means you'll never understand what a beautiful sight an old woman is, but in my eyes it means she's finally getting her payday for this whole process. I'm more of a volunteer. Well I'm not volunteering, I'm just not being payed. Be happy for your dad, not sad because of him; I'm sure that's not what he would've wanted.
Lydia: Wow. I don't think I've ever thought about it like that.
Tears have started falling down her face since I've been talking, and I catch them. Another thing I can't do anymore. When I wipe her tears, my hand drags to the nape of her neck and I keep it there, moving my thumb up and down in what I hope is a comforting manner. It must've worked because she kisses me. She kisses me like I've answered her problems, or at least helped. This is what I needed. She's who I've needed. We kiss until she can't anymore, until all she can do is sob. I grip her hand tightly.
Marlene: I'll get you home.
