Resolution- Champagne Challenge 154 (PG) 01/09/14
Posted: Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:35 pm
Here is my offering to challenge 154, 'New Year, New Life'. In the series, we heard a little about when Mick met Josef. Here, I've expanded on the conversation between the two very different vampires. As always, I don't own the characters, but I love playing with them.
Enjoy!!
Resolution
“So…how’s Coraline’s latest conquest?”
“What’d you say, jerk?”
“Relax, Mick. I just wanted to get your attention. You seemed a bit pre-occupied when Coraline introduced us earlier. I’m Kostan, Josef Kostan.”
“Is that like ‘Bond, James Bond’?”
“Cute. Not only does brooding boy read, he has a sense of humor. Still, I didn’t take you for the spy novel type.
“Takes my mind off things.”
“Indeed, the adventures of Mr. Fleming’s multi-talented spy allow one to escape the mundane world. Pity I can’t be photographed, though. If they ever film his novels, I’d be perfect as Bond.”
“Humble, aren’t you?”
“Why should I be? Bond and I have much in common, including our allure to the fairer sex. Four centuries of experience gives me something of an edge, though.”
“You’ve been alive four hundred years?”
“Alive? Only for about 25 years. The rest of the time…”
“You’ve been a vampire.”
“You make that sound sooo disgusting.”
“Isn’t it? Hiding, living in fear, killing to stay …”
“Alive? Living is overrated, my friend….”
“I’m not your friend.”
“Maybe not yet. Coraline said you were having trouble adjusting to your new life. Out of curiosity, I thought I’d see why. She’s annoyed with you, though, skulking away from her party.”
“You call this life? Don’t you get it? You, me, Coraline, we’re all dead. Dead men should be buried, not feeding off the living.”
“That’s a rather fatalistic view, don’t you think?”
“It’s the truth. What we are is …unnatural.”
“You see unnatural, I see evolved. You know, like man from apes.”
“See what you want. I don’t know you and if you enjoy being a monster, I don’t want to.”
“Trust me, you do. As for why I care, it’s in my own interest to. Vamps who can’t accept their new life are dangerous. They cling to their human past and end up doing something stupid that jeopardizes the rest of us. So, to preserve my own precious hide, I’ll spare a few moments to try and change your perspective.”
“Save your breath.”
“Stubborn bastard, aren’t you? Listen to me or not, it’s your choice. Vampires don’t have the corner on monstrosity, you know. You were a soldier during the war, right? You’ve probably seen, maybe even did things that turned your gut.”
“I was a medic. I saved lives...”
“That’s my point. Even in war, when it’s so easy to do monstrous things, people can choose not to. You did. You still can.”
“What about feeding off humans? There’s not much choice about that.”
“But there is. Even though you can, you don’t have to kill them or even forcibly take their blood. There are always alternatives, Mick. You just have to find them. Life, even our undead one, is what you make of it.”
“Maybe.”
“Trust me, it is. How’s this for a New Year’s resolution? Let go of the past. Embrace what you are. Enjoy immortality’s endless possibilities. Otherwise, you’re looking at an eternity of being miserable.”
Enjoy!!
Resolution
“So…how’s Coraline’s latest conquest?”
“What’d you say, jerk?”
“Relax, Mick. I just wanted to get your attention. You seemed a bit pre-occupied when Coraline introduced us earlier. I’m Kostan, Josef Kostan.”
“Is that like ‘Bond, James Bond’?”
“Cute. Not only does brooding boy read, he has a sense of humor. Still, I didn’t take you for the spy novel type.
“Takes my mind off things.”
“Indeed, the adventures of Mr. Fleming’s multi-talented spy allow one to escape the mundane world. Pity I can’t be photographed, though. If they ever film his novels, I’d be perfect as Bond.”
“Humble, aren’t you?”
“Why should I be? Bond and I have much in common, including our allure to the fairer sex. Four centuries of experience gives me something of an edge, though.”
“You’ve been alive four hundred years?”
“Alive? Only for about 25 years. The rest of the time…”
“You’ve been a vampire.”
“You make that sound sooo disgusting.”
“Isn’t it? Hiding, living in fear, killing to stay …”
“Alive? Living is overrated, my friend….”
“I’m not your friend.”
“Maybe not yet. Coraline said you were having trouble adjusting to your new life. Out of curiosity, I thought I’d see why. She’s annoyed with you, though, skulking away from her party.”
“You call this life? Don’t you get it? You, me, Coraline, we’re all dead. Dead men should be buried, not feeding off the living.”
“That’s a rather fatalistic view, don’t you think?”
“It’s the truth. What we are is …unnatural.”
“You see unnatural, I see evolved. You know, like man from apes.”
“See what you want. I don’t know you and if you enjoy being a monster, I don’t want to.”
“Trust me, you do. As for why I care, it’s in my own interest to. Vamps who can’t accept their new life are dangerous. They cling to their human past and end up doing something stupid that jeopardizes the rest of us. So, to preserve my own precious hide, I’ll spare a few moments to try and change your perspective.”
“Save your breath.”
“Stubborn bastard, aren’t you? Listen to me or not, it’s your choice. Vampires don’t have the corner on monstrosity, you know. You were a soldier during the war, right? You’ve probably seen, maybe even did things that turned your gut.”
“I was a medic. I saved lives...”
“That’s my point. Even in war, when it’s so easy to do monstrous things, people can choose not to. You did. You still can.”
“What about feeding off humans? There’s not much choice about that.”
“But there is. Even though you can, you don’t have to kill them or even forcibly take their blood. There are always alternatives, Mick. You just have to find them. Life, even our undead one, is what you make of it.”
“Maybe.”
“Trust me, it is. How’s this for a New Year’s resolution? Let go of the past. Embrace what you are. Enjoy immortality’s endless possibilities. Otherwise, you’re looking at an eternity of being miserable.”
Mick, how rude! 
And thank goodness he did! 
But he made a real effort, and Josef was a big part of that. And so the friendship begins! 
At the time, Josef wasn't sure Mick could be trusted, but he saw something in the unwilling vampire that was worthwhile salvaging.