A Vampire By Any Other Name

“Okay last question,” he cleared his throat and tried to relax to no avail, “is there anything i can do to help ya get along with the other students?”

“I do not see any reason why I would have any issues above and beyond the average individual my age entering a new school. I am yet to make much in the way of acquaintances, but...I would not think it cause for worry.” Kanaya’s expression seemed pretty much a perfect poker face even as she casually mentioned herself to currently be pretty much friendless. But that was a work in progress. “Will that be all, Mr Droog?”

“Wh-what?” her voice becomes a pitch higher and she starts looking around herself. She winces at the pain. For a moment, she just looks at Kanaya, her face impossible to read. Suddenly she grimace and starts crying. Bawling, would be a better word.  “Wh-what are you doing?” she cries, but she doesn’t do anything to stop her. She just covers her face in her hands “Th-that is v-very mean!”

“Oh god, please don’t panic, oh no, oh no.” Her hands were a little shaky, but she managed to tape down the pad on her neck to stop the bleeding. Kanaya took a moment to lick around her mouth, so that as she tried to smile supportively her teeth wouldn’t be slick with blood. “I am dreadfully sorry, this must be very frightening. Damara consented to this, but I did not expect you to awaken. I am so sorry, please don’t cry, it’ll be okay!”

“I got two more questions I gotta go through. Do you feel comfortable getting to class?” His voice was oddly stern for a dude who usually didn’t give a fuck.

“I feel comfortable navigating, yes, though I will likely do my best to sit far away from the windows. Hopefully teachers will be accommodating of that. I assume they will know enough about my condition to understand the need.” Kanaya spoke without inflection.

After a moment, it was barely felt at all, considering the fangs weren’t in the wound itself. Although it did sting, but that was to be expected. There was something incredibly unnatural about doing this, which continued to give her chills. Many scenarios ran through her head, where she would turn and harm Kanaya, or where Kanaya lost control. Even though they just met, she trusted her, so she doubted that would actually happen, but she still couldn’t help it. There was always the risk… 

As awkward as ever, the young vampire wasn’t quite sure what to do with her hands while she drained the vital fluids from this stranger. A little unnecessarily, she checked that the bandage and disinfectant was in reach of her hand, and that she could find them without looking. Her hands settled back on Damara’s back, and without really thinking about it she began to give something like a cautious massage, perhaps in an attempt to console and calm the other. Things would go a lot smoother so long as nobody freaked out. But why would anyone feel the need to freak out?

Droog handed Kanaya two forms: REQUEST STUDENT NIGHT ACCESS, and REQUEST INDEPENDENT STUDY. “Security clearance has to go to the headmistress, independent study goes to Carver. You know where the gym is?” 

“I suppose I shall have to learn the location of the gym sooner or later. It will likely not be the most challenging hurdle I will overcome in my time here. Are there any other issues to address, or am I free to go? Well, as free as I’ll ever be.”

“Anything else? Do ya feel comfortable about getting to class?” Dan vaguely wondered if the other campuses had the same shapeshifting building problem.

“Uh, owing to my condition, I suppose you can imagine that it would be difficult for me to engage in exercise. Though I am yet to be headhunted for the football team, I do think it would be beneficial to stay in good shape. Thus, would it be impossible for me to get an exemption on night-time lockdown?” Just like with her breathing, Kanaya didn’t really need sleep. She did enjoy sleep, but it was essentially trivial to forgo it, and she oftentimes did so without even realising it when she was engrossed in something.

“Hey, just so you know, I’ve got this whole split-personality deal going on, and I just might turn if the parasite in my brain decides you’re dangerous. In case I do, if I start crying, you’re in the luck. If not… Well, I’d stop if I were you”, she was trying to aim for ‘playful warning’ but she missed that by a goddamn mile. Shit, that was ominous. 

After a few moments, she settled into place, her teeth pricking the skin lightly. “I’m going to bite.” She mumbled, and then her teeth sunk hard into her flesh. Immediately, the taste of blood made her release an almost-sexual moan into the puncture wound, her lips pressed forcefully around the site of penetration. Her pupils dilated and her relaxed body seemed to tense up.

“I also have a few questions for you. What year are you in? Will this hurt? Also, are you good at history? Because I really need help with that”, she said. Oh man, she could really go for a smoke right about now. Her addiction would often act up when she was nervous, especially if it wasn’t something she was thrilled to do either. She had brought her cigarettes so she could immediately smoke once she was done here. Ugh, she could barely wait. 

“There will be a modicum of pain, and potentially a sensation of wooziness in the aftermath. I leave the site of draining to you. Anywhere with sufficient blood flow; the neck is a classic, but if that is overly intimate or too dangerous for your tastes I would be happy to drink from your wrist. There is the femoral artery, but the placement of that is...problematic.” Kanaya’s fingers nervously rapped on her thigh. “I brush my teeth very meticulously, and will disinfect your wound, of course.”

Oh, sorry.

“Well, sir, my condition so far has been documented more thoroughly than I would be able to elucidate off of the top of my head.” She politely bowed her head as she tried to remember the things she had intended to bring up in conversation. “Would it be possible to get a more comprehensive way to remove light from my dormitory room? I appreciate that one cannot exactly board up my window for a number of reasons, but I would like to be able to sleep without worrying about waking up to my face burning.”

So, before she knew it, she found herself in front of the door to room N-212 with the notice in her hand. Oh, god why would she agree to this? But… Her grades… She forced herself to knock.  “Hello. I’m here for the offer”, she said.

“You’ve come to the right place. I hope you’re not afraid of needles.” Her fangs poked out as her small mouth smiled softly. She quickly gave her guest a once-over, and invited them in. “I must ask...what year are you?”

He kept a straight face and said, “Miss Kanaya? You’re next. In the office.”

“Hello Sir.” She gave a little curtsy with the folds of her big dumb cloak, and walked into his office.