North American Vampire Council & Past Calling (Hypernaturals 12 & 13)

I Like To Fang

Victoria took a bite of food and considered me thoughtfully as she chewed. She dabbed at her mouth with a napkin. BBQ is messy. "I think it is very forward-thinking of you to have considered that gender preference imbalance. It must be even worse now that you are one of only two catalyst Vampires we know of, and you are involved in helping so many others have children."

"Not at all. I do not crawl into their bed. I am not in their house. That was Alexander and him requiring a blow job as payment for pheromones. Asshole. Jessica and Mom extract what they need, and I indirectly set things in motion. It only takes a snootful of the pheromones for most combinations. Vampire/Vampire requires my blood too. I still do not need to be there. They can be starting a baby at the clinic or at home. I may be in France working on pissing off Fiona. I do not want to be there when couples are starting their family. That is their time. Not mine."

"Angel? Vera?" Victoria asked.

"Bad examples: that is different. We were already lovers. They wanted to have me as the father, and they already live at the house. They already took the Sagan name. I have been involved with both of them over the years in one way or another. I am Nakoma's Dad. Vera was trying to have a child with me for years."

"You are physically WITH them." Victoria pointed out.

"That is not the same thing as being with every single couple or single mom having a kid. Yes: We are lovers. As Rachel and Holly are to Helen, Vera and Angel are to me. No. Bad example. Vera and Helen get together a great deal lately. Vera is having a bonding drive like you would not believe. Giving Morgan a run for her money. Being pregnant is a bit like Conclave rules, although frankly, I do not see us reverting to a lower level of family interactions once the babies are born. Helen and Vera especially. I can see Helen going over to play with Vera's boy toy, Johnny, with Vera someday. Helen has never asked to get a day pass on that yet. I am never with Rachel or Holly. Jessica gets with Angel now and then. Then there is Danny, Lori, DeWayne, and Carol: You know what? It's complicated."

"Sounds like it." Victoria said with a knowing smile.

"When Simi and Tobey want to start our child, Helen will be there for that. We will take that into account because Helen will ovulate, the same as Simi. When Vera and Angel were trying to get pregnant, I went to their place alone. If I had not, I would have had a lot of fertile Vampires around me. Speaking of gender imbalance, one of the points of Boot Camp besides that of unnecessary death is to try and fix some of the overall community gender imbalance. Between that and voluntary turns like what DeWayne and Danny will be, the female Vampire world may be a little warmer at night. Assuming they are interested in that gender flavor."

"Do you think you all will marry another man someday?" Victoria asked.

"Yes. Danny and Lori for sure. A solo male is always possible, but we have not met anyone like that yet. Good men get scooped up. See DeWayne for details."

"So, whenever this theoretical man enters your life, will that free you in some way? Will you become more available to others for sex as pleasure?" Victoria asked.

"Not planning to be. Denise, Morgan, and Jessica are very clear on that subject. I do not have spare cycles. That was before 'new' Helen. Fewer not spare cycles." I answered. "Why?"

"I never had a child when I was human. I was turned very young. I would like to. Someday. If it were to be a child with you, I would be required, as I understand it, to live with you. You do not donate sperm to the clinic. Also, the bonding compulsion needs to be considered."

"Oh. I see. That is firmly in the 'cross that bridge later' category because that is after you and I are both off Council, I think. Neither of us needs the idea with others on the Council that you would give me any sort of preferential treatment, whether or not you actually would, because we are joint parents. That would paint a different picture than you and I as sexual partners in Vampire land. Vampires comprehend 'Conclave Rules' a lot better than 'Victoria and Adrian had a baby'. Many would assume with a child that I would in fact be treated differently than others because I would be. I would be the father of your child. That makes a difference."

"That is very true." Victoria agreed.

"I would agree, under the terms you know, to you and I having a child after we are both off the Council. That is like... 200 years from now. I found fanging you to be a very agreeable experience, so I think for bonding purposes, we would be compatible. Next time we are under Conclave rules, perhaps that is something we can be sure about. Not to sound egotistical, but I find it unlikely that if we go through making a baby together, that once she is born you would wish to cease having sex from time to time." I said.

"I would like to see if we are compatible beyond that one-time thing. It would be nice to have a bonding experience that does not suck. Helen's did not sound terrific, being isolated in Martinique. Vera's many local lovers' plan sounds better. Morgan kept her focus small. A limited group. That sounds ideal. Denise likes it that way." Victoria was in no way unhappy with the idea that we are talking about centuries from now.

"If nothing else, at the moment we know I like to fang you, and that you like to be fanged." I said.

"Oh yes. As sexual experiences have gone over the course of my life, that is a standout moment. Far better than hunting humans. That is a lovely segue back into that topic of the day for me: Are you miserable on Council?"

"I enjoy the archeology thing with Nova immensely. Super interesting." I answered.

"Nova said you are a natural." Victoria agreed.

"I hate how much of my time Council takes from my family, and I refuse to be political. I will want off in a century or two, but only once what I have done takes firm root. In the meantime, I expect YOU to cover for me. Not Helen. I want to keep THIS Helen."

"That is fair. I do the politics, you do the day-to-day, and keep working your changes. So, once you are off and I am off, we'll talk about that other thing. Plus many Conclaves between now and then to ensure we will work as co-parents."

"Done." I agreed and stuck out my hand and we shook on it. "Also. Don't forget that white wine, or I will pour it down the sink, and then Morgan will complain about the way the sink smells."