Unbirthday (PG-13, MLA's Second Birthday Challenge)

[allegrita]

janicevictoria, thank you so much. One of the things that I found hard to cope with in the final 4 episodes was that the whole "feel" of them was so much lighter and less noir than the first 12. I wanted to try to explain, through Mick's thought processes, why that happened... and I do believe that his short time on the cure gave him a new perspective... and a more accurate view of what humanity really is.

Shadow, oh my goodness, thank you for re-reading "Shock" too! I didn't start this story to be a bookend to it, but I do think that it turned out to be one. Having just read your amazing In Between story covering Mick's week as a human, I am humbled beyond words that you like this story. If I can do justice to Mick through my writing, I am completely satisfied. And if you heard Mick speaking my words, I am absolutely

Luxe, yes, that is what he was thinking there. He wanted so much to make love with Beth for the first time as a human. (Well, he wanted to love her, live with her, grow old with her, and die with her! But he knew that was out of reach.) I truly believe that if he had any regrets about turning back when he did, that would be the one. Because if he couldn't connect with her before he turned back... how could he bridge the gulf of his own reticence to indulge in his vampire urges where she was concerned? It seems like such a huge burden for him. But Beth made it possible for him to see that there was a way. If he was willing to work for it.

darkstarrising, I'm glad you thought Mick's newfound sense of appreciation for his vampy skills rang true. I saw several places in that episode where Mick's romanticized view of humanity clanged hard into the hard, cold reality of what it was really like to experience those things. He spent an inordinate amount of time getting beat up and missing his abilities... remember when he sniffed in the morgue and couldn't sniff the vamp smell on Maureen? I thought about that, and his experiences with running, and not being able to jump up to windows, and almost falling to his death, and oh lord, experiencing Guillermo's "tender" first aid skills... yikes! By the end of that week, he would have HAD to appreciate the vamp stuff more.

Did that mean he didn't want to be human anymore? Nope. Not at all. But I do believe that he resolved to make the most of the time he was given, not just as a human, but as a vampire too. So he made a choice to live, rather than resenting his lot in life.

And thanks for liking the kiss description. I do love that kiss best... because it was such a battle.

[Lilly]

Alle, I really love this. I told you after reading the first 2 or 3 paragraphs that this was SO Mick. You hit all the right notes here and touched on some things that haven't really been explored before (at least as far as I'm aware).

We know that asking to be turned back made a huge difference in his ability to come to terms with his condition this time. But I don't think I've seen such a great explanation of why he needed time before he could move forward with Beth. Of course, he had to wrap his mind around the idea of being in a relationship (with a human, no less) but he needed time for his body to adjust to the huge rebound it had been through.

There's no question in my mind that his biggest regret wasn't being able to at least start that relationship as a human. That's what his "It isn't about sex" conversation with Josef was about earlier in the episode. Of course it was about sex -- Josef was right -- Mick couldn't bear the idea of Beth being in bed with a monster.

Your ending really says it all:

I can’t hide in the shadows anymore. It’s time for this vampire to step into the light.

It's really about sharing a part of himself he always kept hidden -- not so much the vampire, but rather his heart.

[allegrita]

Lilly, my apologies for not responding to your comment before this. I'm so grateful to you for helping me with the story. You have such an amazing knack for the rhythms of the characters' phrasing. Your suggestions made a world of difference to this story, thank you!

It's really about sharing a part of himself he always kept hidden -- not so much the vampire, but rather his heart.

Absolutely. That's a huge decision for him to have made. And come to think of it, after such a long time alone, it's hard to find fault with the poor guy for not being perfect at the dating game right away...

[maggatha3]

That was a relief to read, I had always though -like Beth- that he did have regrets for beihg re-turned, and not only the... obvious ones. Now, it seems he has come to terms with it since it was his choise to make, and chose it instead of losing Beth, or better yet instead of having someone else save her. He even enjoys himself a bit being a vamp??? Even better. Well, he will have so much time to reconsider it again and again, I guess..I hope he sticks to it..

[allegrita]

Thanks, maggatha. I hope so too. Things between Mick and Beth are still difficult, dangerous and complicated, but for him to admit that he wants to try--well, that's a huge step.

[jen]

Fabulous glimpse into Mick's mind at this moment.

Mick's returning--to save his Beth --was starting over for him in many ways. He made a deliberate choice to give up what he thought he had wanted for decades, yet he also got to see that he had forgotten (perhaps a bit by choice) the negative factors in humanity.

Wonderful reread! Thanks, Alle!

Jenna

[fairytoes]

Really enjoyed it the first time I read this story, and I really enjoyed now. Wonderful insight into Mick's thoughts.

Thank you, Allegrita

[allegrita]

Thank you, Jenna and fairytoes. It's such a compliment for people to come by for a reread and to leave another comment! I really appreciate it.

[Emma-lee]

Loved this Alle....it really did capture Mick. I could hear him speaking in a VO like in the episodes as I was reading. Good Job!

(Though I had to cringe at his want for Beth...Sorry )

[allegrita]

It's okay, honey. I totally get it.

[Marigold]

What a perfect look into Mick's mind. Mick had so much going on in his life at this time, and you did a great job of tying everything together. I especially like how you included that there are both advantages and disadvantages to being a vampire and to being a human.

My two favourite lines:

But even though I’m not human, the past week has made me realize that I need to do a lot more living, in my own undead way.

I can’t hide in the shadows anymore. It’s time for this vampire to step into the light.

Wonderful advice.

Thank you, Allegrita! Very nicely done!

[allegrita]

Thank you so much, Marigold!

[jen]

Yet another wonderful reread!

This is both very Mick and very human (and the two are not now, nor were they ever mutually exclusive (no matter what that dear, hard headed, adorable idiot thinks!) How many times have we all grown nostalgic about an event or time in our past, only to discover (if we choose to immerse ourselves in trivia from that time) that there were some very real bad times back there, too. Our minds tend to forget the bad and remember the good. Mick apparently forgot the irritations of humanity and was never human again long enough to discover them all. This time was more of a learning experience, fortunately. It is also interesting that he seems to have gotten a dose of Josef's attitude along the way. Don't know if that is part of the returning or not. As Josef said, at this point 'fielder's choice'

Alle, once again you have truly hit one out of the park!

Thank you

Jenna

[allegrita]

Thanks, Jenna! It's such a compliment to get a rereader's comments.

[BlueEyedMonster]

As usual a wonderful story (which I missed somehow) and a perfect glimpse into Mick's mind and feelings. I too believe that at this point in his "life" he has to make some hard decisions. he has come to terms with his vampire.

Being turned against his will forced that life on him and he only saw the regrets and horror and Coraline didn't help matters. Asking to be brought back into the vampire life put all the cards in his hands. Did he first want to make love to Beth as a human? I think that was his main goal in being human again to be with the women he loved. But now he has to really think about their life together as human and vampire and how to make it work. He can't blame Coraline any more he has the solo responsibility for his condition, and he has to make all his moves based on that fact.