lio

Look, y'all, I am so down bad for this man, it's not funny. IDK how much of a community this has, but I don't care!!!!! If you like horny vampires, you should definitely watch it! But ask your mommy first!

I do love writing in my native language of hick so just so you know, you got a southern accent.

Working in this Podunk town had one perk. No one knows who you are. At least you thought no one knew who you were. Your father wouldn't have expected you to stay in the south, so that's where you went. You couldn't get as far east as you wanted. Baton Rouge would've been ideal, but Bon Temps was just a temporary home. Until you get enough money, Merlott's will do.

You should fear the Reaper.

Your cowboy boots click against the floor as you lean against the bar, order pad in hand.

"Two whisky sour's and a Bud Light, please," you ask the gal behind the bar. She just gives you a somewhat annoyed look. "I don't believe we've met before. I've been workin' here for some time and thought I knew everyone."

She slams a tray with the drinks down on the counter. "It's Tara," She says, almost spilling the drinks.

"Well, thank you, Tara." You say sardonically as you grab the tray with the drinks for table four.

Merlott's on a Friday night was the place to be in this small Louisiana town. Full of people looking for a good drink, a good time, or a chance to get grabby at waitresses.

The uniform at Merlott's was, to say the least, tacky. But the science behind it worked. Men gave you better tips when you wore the little shorts that Sam gave you or the low-waisted jean skirt you were wearing tonight. Wives or girlfriends never appreciated it much, at least the insecure ones didn't. But thanks to the old southern hospitality, women weren't usually the ones payin'.  

Speaking of sleazy men, table four's two whisky sour's and one Bud Light are set in front of their respective patrons.

"Anything else I can get you, fellas?" You say, folding the tray against one arm while the other reaches for your order pad.

"We're all set for now, sweetheart." Says the man with the Bud Light. He slowly looks you up and down as he takes a swig of his beer. A big, portly man he was.

You smile and nod, "Well, I'll be back to check on y'all in a few minutes in case you change your mind." You turn to go grab some food for your other tables.

Full house tonight means all hands on deck.

All hands on deck meant you, Arleen, and Sookie.

The other gal who would normally be working, Dawn, was murdered about four month ago. The poor girl, she was fun. You could see you and her being friends.

Arleen was older and very matronly. Her red boxed dyed hair always high on her head. Not always someone you could see yourself having a good time with. She was always on the phone behind the bar talking to her kids or calling out because she couldn't find a babysitter.

Arleen was currently pregnant, and that seemed to make everything worse when it came to work. She was barely a few months along but the excuses seemed to be never ending.

Maybe you shouldn't be so judgmental.

Sookie, well, Sookie is who you should've grown up to be. But further than who you were.  Sweet, blonde, but she did act like she could hear what you were thinkin' sometimes. Answering questions before you could even ask them. Apparently it was common knowledge that she was a bit quirky.  

Sookie had also been the center of a vampire's attention. Bill Compton and she have been going steady for some time. If you had known vampire visitors would be so common around Louisiana, you would've headed to Tennessee or literally anywhere else.

Anyhow, Bill wasn't too horrible a guy. The only person he truly had an interest in was Miss Stackhouse. You did have to bring him a bottle of TruBlood once, and he kindly said thank you, then continued to stare at Sookie for the rest of the night.

Sookie was kind to you right out of the gate, taking you under her wing the second you the job and even inviting you to do things outside of work. You were friends, and she was incredibly kind and would give you the shirt off her back. So you were determined to treat her with the same kind of respect. If she needed it, you'd be there for her.

You came at an interesting time. No one would tell you what had actually happened, but something about a serial killer, some mass hysteria, and anti vampire cults.

Hard thing for you to wrap your brain around, but it was no longer a problem. At least it shouldn't be.

You make your way to the window, right as Sookie gasps.

"Ooo, what are we talkin' about?"

"Pussy." Lafeyett says matter-of-factly. You laugh.

"Again," Sookie says, annoyed.

"Right Lafeyett don't you dare speak such vulgar words around the sweet Stackhouse." You say faux cooing and hugging Sookie.

"I'm the sweet Stackhouse?" She cocks an eyebrow at you.

"Well, lord knows Jason ain't." You lean against the counter and smile. "Lafeyett, while you're talkin' about things you've never seen, I haven't seen my burger for table two."

Sookie cackles. Arleen rushes over, looking stressed, hanging up three tickets on the order rack.

"You bitches don't know what you're missing," Lafeyett says, thrusting his hips.

You whistle, "What I'm missing is my burger for table two." The smile that stretches across your and Lafayette's faces matches.

Lafeyett was fun. You never got to hang out with someone like him before. There was a mutual understanding between both of you. Like you were twins separated at birth. Well, except that you look nothing alike, and he was at least 6 years older than you.

He sets your burger on the windowsill, not so gently.

"There you go, hooker." He gives a playful wink.

You smile and proceed to bring the food to table two.

That's how most nights went at Merlott's, and when you weren't workin', you were at your tiny trailer, watching T.V.

That's how life was for a few weeks. A few blissful weeks.

Then, thanks to Miss Sookie Stackhouse, taking you to some vampire bar over in Shreveport.

Everything changed.

~~~~~~~~~

You were over at Sookie's house. Making stuff for Arleen's baby shower. It was after you both had gotten out of work, so it was dark out.

You were currently making some silly little signs for the party games Arleen practically demanded.

The windows were open, and the radio was on a low volume. The small kitchen table served well as a workbench.

'Unwritten' By Natasha Bedingfield was playing softly.

You and Sookie were both focused on your own task when you heard a knock at the front door.

"Oh! That's Bill, he will make this go by so much quicker." She says, jumping up from her chair with so much glee.

"Oh, I didn't know he was comin'..." Your words fall on deaf ears as she hops towards the door. You shift uncomfortably in the old kitchen chairs.

It's not that you dislike vampires. You didn't want anything to do with them, but that's not because you dislike them. The fear of them knowing who you are is much scarier than getting to know them. Also, the fact that they could very well kill you doesn't help.

Sookie comes practically skipping back into the kitchen. "On Bill, this is y/n."

"I do believe we've met before." He says, giving you a kind smile. His old school accent, rolls off his tongue differently than yours or Sookie's

"Yes, well, anyway, nice to see you again." You say smiling back.

Bill pulls out Sookie's chair for her, then sits in the chair across from you.

A few minutes go by, and Sookie explains what they're doing and what to do with the little plastic babies. You remained quite trying to focus on listening to the lyrics of the songs playing. Cause if the rumors were true and Sookie could read your mind, you don't want her hearing what you have to think.

Halfway through 'Dani California', Bill directs a question at you.

"Hm?" You say, just raising your eyes to look at the vampire across from you.

"You're newer to the area than I am. Where are you from? What brings you to Bon Temps?"

'Don't Fear The Reaper' is playing on the radio.

You continue writing in your nicest handwriting and click your tongue, "Um, well, I'm from Texas." You swallow hard, trying not to think too hard about not thinking too hard.

"And I came to Bon Temps because I needed a change of pace after college."

"Y/n, you never told me you went to college." Sookie sounded hurt that you didn't tell her that.

You switch from the blue marker to the pink one, and shrug. "Didn't reckon it was too important. Right?"

"What was your area of study?" Bill asks, in his thick southern voice.

You swallow hard, "I have a degree in criminal justice." You bring one of your knees up on the chair.

"I think you might be one of the only people in Bon Temps with a proper education," Sookie says as she laughs.

"Well, not much good it did me, right?"

"Criminal justice? Definity did not have anything like that when I was growing up." Bill laughs and you can't help but imagine that college wasn't really a thing when he was growing up. "What does that entail?" Bill asks, continuing to put the little plastic babies into the ice cube trays.

"Its hard to explain, but its what detectives typically study."

Bill seemed satisfied with that answer.

A few moments pass, and you're all in concentrated silence.

Bill stiffens all of a sudden, looking up from his task.

'Come on, baby'

There's another knock at the door. This one is firm and commanding but slow.

"Who the hell is knockin' at this hour?" Sookie begins to stand up, but Bill grabs her hand before she can leave the table.

'(Don't fear the Reaper) Baby, take my hand'

The shift of energy in the room is noticeable. So noticeable, you put down the markers you're using.

You can feel Bill's demeanor change. It had a smell, like when a thunderstorm was a bout to start. You've never felt something so intense before, its kind of making your head hurt.

'(Don't fear the Reaper) We'll be able to fly'

Bill and Sookie exchange a look you can't quite read. They push up from their chairs at the same time and stomp out of the kitchen.

'(Don't fear the Reaper) Baby, I'm your man'

You cap your markers, follow not too far behind.

'La, la, la, la, la La, la, la, la, la'

You peer around the kitchen wall. Through the dining room, you could see the front door.

It was wide open, and filling the expans of the door way, was a extreamly tall, extrealmy handsome vampire.

'Love of two is one'

He had to be over six feet tall, where the hell did he find jeans that fit him? His skin was was gohstly, his hair was blonde and tossled. His pale blue eyes scaned the couple barring him from entering.

You weren't sure why but the energy in the room was making you feel woozy.

'Here, but now they're gone'

They were talking in hushed voices at the door. Vampire Bill was radiating annoyance. Sookie looked like she was ready to kill this giant of a man in her doorway.

"Are you going to let me in?" said the blonde man, a devious smile stretching across his face, and his eyes locked on Sookie.

"Now, why would we do that?" Bill asks.

'Came the last night of sadness'

"Because I have information that would serve you." The vampire's attention moves to the other vampire. Then to you.

He leans down slightly to get a better view of you from his spot in the doorway. He smiles a devilishly, raising his hand to wave at you.

Your expression doesn't change. Blank.

'And it was clear she couldn't go on'

"Who's your friend, Sookie?"

"None of your business," Sookie says, moving to almost shield you from the taller blondes view, but her attempt proved futile to his height. "What information do you have?"

"Let me in, and I can tell you," The vampire's gaze remains fixed on you. "All of you."

'And the door was open and the wind appeared'

Bill and Sookie exchanged glances.

Sookie approaches you, leaving the door wide open. No fear that the tall vampire would bardge in. He couldn't.

"Hey, Y/n, I am so sorry, but we have some unexpected company." She says, fidgeting with her hands uncomfortably. "I appreciate you helpin' out tonight, but we're gonna have to cut it short."

The vampire in the doorway was still staring at the two of you.

'The candles blew and then disappeared'

You shift your attention to her and smile, "I understand." You turn to go grab your purse and shoes from the kitchen, not before hearing mumbles from the two vampires at the door.

You grab your purse and slip your shoes on.

Sookie is next to you in the kitchen.

"Jesus, Sook. Don't scare me like that."

"Are you okay?" She looks at you, concerned.

'The curtains flew and then he appeared'

"Yes?" You say eyebrows knitting together. She just gives you a quizical look. "What?"

"Nothin'..." She replies, crossing her arms. "I'll walk you out." She says, grabbing open the mud room door, and walking you out to your car.

Before you climb into your old Ford pickup, you turn to her.

'Come on, baby'

"Be safe, okay?"

"Eric won't hurt me, he's just irritating." She says, looking back at the house.

So Eric was his name.

'(And she had no fear) And she ran to him'

"Either way," You say, pulling open the door. "He seems... trigger-happy. Have a safe night." You hop into the cab and put your keys in the ignition.

"Night, Y/n."

You blow a kiss at her through your open window.

Then you drive off into the night, not before passing the front of the house. Eric is perched on the railing of the porch. Watching you drive off.

'(Then they started to fly) They looked backward and said goodbye'

Even when he's in your rearview mirror, you can feel his eyes on you; it sends a shiver down your spine.

'(She had become like they are) She had taken his hand'

Who the hell is Eric.

'(She had become like they are) Come on, baby'

And why the hell was he lookin' at you like that?

'(Don't fear the Reaper)'

~~~~~

Obviously, there are Eridian kids with special needs, and a few of them even filter into his classes. But one specific type of special needs kid has never shown up in his classes, and the only reason he even learned of the condition is because Rocky and Adrien's first pebble has the condition.

It's initially quite a struggle for them to deal with, and Grace sympathizes of course, because the child will apparently have huge learning and academic struggles and will likely never be able to live on their own. That is, until he learns the details of the disability.

Basically, it's a condition where the part of the Eridian brain that gives them their eidetic memory isn't fully developed, and so these kids just... can't remember things the way most eridians do. And in a culture where an eidetic memory is the norm, all things cater to that, so not having that is actually a massive disability.

But Grace is like, so... this kid just learns the same way a human does, or something like. Which is nothing new to him, though he is somewhat boggled at how much Rocky and Adrian struggle with their infant and their "slow" learning curve, even as far as initial developmental stages. Grace, on the other hand, simply treats the kid the same way he would a human infant, and Rocky and Adrien are impressed with his patience.

But, through this, it occurs to Grace that there must be other kids out there with this disability who likely aren't getting the attention and chances in life that they deserve, because Eridian culture is particularly hostile toward this disability, and actively views those with it as unable to function in regular society.

So Grace demands that a special course be put together where he teaches kids with this disability specifically. Rocky is hesitant, as most kids with this disability are home schooled and kind of... kept shut away. But Grace insists and as one of Erid's saviors, he gets what he wants eventually.

His first class is super small, maybe only three kids because so few parents were willing to advertise that their children have this disability. And because of the stigma around it, even those who agreed to it are super unsure and want to be present during the lessons, perhaps paranoid about the impression it will leave on Savior Grace, who is so accustomed to only teaching the most gifted students.

But Grace knows exactly how to deal with these kids. Some of them have varying degrees of function when it comes to their memory banks, which isn't so unlike teaching kids on earth. And so Grace is able to introduce all these tools and teaching techniques that were previously unheard of on Erid (though very normal on Earth) like having textbooks for reference with you at all times and having strategies that are less focused on memorization for understanding, and providing these kids with tools like calculators and teaching them the art of taking notes to look back on, etc etc.

Suddenly, with all these tools that most Eridians don't need, these kids are learning at a much faster rate, and succeeding with the help of all their little tools. And because so many normal eridians are ignorant of Grace's actual biology, it's shocking to them that Savior Grace doesn't have an eidetic memory either (shocking to everyone but Rocky anyway)--that his brain functions quite similarly in capacity to these "disabled" children.

Once this news gets around, suddenly there's more kids in his special classes, and there's all kinds of discourse being inflamed because the real reason these kids can't live on their own or function is lack of support from Eridian society.

If Savior Grace, who is well respected as a genius in his own right amongst the Eridians, can function so successfully, they why can't these kids?

The Contemplation aka Should I call my ex? (strangely inspired by Dua Lipa's New Rules)