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Farhad had been staying at Castle Schoenberg for a few days, Laurenz took a liking to him and was quite pleased to have some company without having to hide. At first their interactions were pretty formal, Laurenz is naturally reserved as a person, especially with people he doesn’t know well, so most people at this point in time. Farhad’s outward personality and jolly demeanor fascinated him, he viewed him with curiosity and even an amount of envy. Farhad also used the time wisely to observe Laurenz, he’s a very perceptive and highly empathetic person, a remarkable combination for a vampire to have, but these qualities are not often valued among vampires. A view most unwise, for Farhad has a very intimate connection to humans, he understands them and is able to blend in with them quite effectively.

On this particular evening, after having fulfilled their dietary needs, on the castle’s servants, they decided to take a walk around the courtyard by the moonlight. The castle was empty at this hour, even the few guards around seemed to be almost asleep. The fountain attached to the wall across from the main gate caught Farhad’s eye, he went and sat on the ledge of its pool and admired the sound of the water. Laurenz joined him at first in silence, until he found the courage to ask the question that was burning in his mind since their first encounter.

“So, when are you gonna tell me the story?”

Farhad looked up at him with a smile, he understood what he meant, but wasn’t about to let on.
“Which story do you wish to hear, my friend?”

“Well, the circumstances of your exile, of course, I like you, but see it from my perspective, I wouldn’t want to be hiding a fugitive.”

Farhad laughed softly. ”Nothing like that, I have committed no crime, unless telling the truth is a crime, but that is a tale for another night, respectfully, it is a subject which brought me pain. I think we need to first establish some more rapport with each other before I can share this tale.”

Laurenz nodded along thoughtfully, everyone carries some burdens from their past, he shouldn’t press the issue, he wanted to gain his trust.

“I understand, but I can't help but be fascinated by your view on things. I haven’t met another vampire quite like you, is it down to different cultures? What’s the secret?”

“I’m flattered.” Farhad replied. “Alas, not cultural, that’s just how I am, vampires are not that much different from place to place, I noticed. Most of them bask in their power over humans, but never stop to think about the power humans have over us.”

Laurenz looked at him curiously. “Not sure what to make of this, we are clearly and obviously more powerful than them, what power do they hold over us?”

“And yet we cannot survive without them for long. Sure you can go some time feeding on cows, but both you and I know that the blood of a knowing being, an intelligent being is what makes us who we are, this is where we draw our power. Tell me Laurenz, how powerful do you feel when you stand before them with that temptation looming over you, having to battle with yourself to keep your sanity and composure just so you don’t become a killer arbitrarily?”

Once again Laurenz was surprised by his candor, these were thoughts that have occurred to him of course, but never reached his lips.
“You may have a point, I admit being in this particular position doesn’t feel very powerful, perhaps that’s why so many of our kind embrace being predators, having the decision of life or death is a powerful feeling after all, is it not?”

“Only if you’re willing to stake your morality on it, and as you said most of our kind tend to choose the easy way, but they lose themselves, they delude themselves as being in control, but they’re not, the hunger is in control. That is not real power, strength comes with doing the right thing, regardless of consequences. We still get to decide who lives and who dies, the difference is in reasoning.”

“Killing is killing however, at the end of the day, how we justify it doesn’t change the fact that a life was purged.”

“I’d argue that killing a killer saves more lives, the lives the killer would snuff out. But i think i see now why you’re so conflicted, you see morality as black or white, but it is not so. It’s gray, you say killing is bad, but if killing the one who was about to kill you, or to save one more vulnerable, that is not bad, nor is it immoral. You say stealing is bad, but if you steal to feed a starving child, it is not bad or immoral. Intentions are different for each action, exerting power over someone lesser than you, that is evil, no question about it, but using this power to defend is not.”

Laurenz listened to him thoughtfully.
“I know that what you say is true, but still I bear the guilt of my actions regardless, is this not an indicator of evil deeds?”

“Not necessarily, this is your own feelings manifesting, no doubt prompted by a lifelong belief that certain actions are evil no matter what context. I no longer subscribe to such ideas.”
He said with a mischievous smile.
“I too have a question for you, if you don’t mind.”

Laurenz nodded at him.
“I will answer if I can.”

“Have you admitted to yourself your feelings of loneliness?”

That one hit him like a punch in the gut, he tried to conceal his expression but it was obvious that he failed.

“I…” he paused for a moment. “Living in isolation was a choice I made.”

“Well, it’s not working.” Farhad replied. “You made the choice before you knew what it was like and then you stubbornly held on to it for fear of being wrong, is this not the case?”

“I don’t know why I held on to it, it's a possibility, I suppose. Nobody likes being wrong, I’m no different.”

“At least you are willing to address it, but are you gonna do anything about it?”

“Is having a guest not enough?”
“Well, being around your own kind is one thing, but how about your people? The ones who serve you here, don’t you think you should form some connections with them?”

“To what end?They are fleeting.”

“My friend, everything is fleeting, it doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate it, we can make friends with them just as we can our own kind, these relationships being finite only makes them more special. You don’t have to get attached to them either if you don’t wish, but interacting with them is crucial, time brings change to everything, but we remain unchanged, how do you expect to adapt if you don’t blend in?”

Part of him was annoyed that this logic and sensibility eluded him for so long.

“So how do you suggest I do this?”

“You’re in a castle, my friend, when was the last time you had a banquet?”

“I don’t believe I ever had, in all honesty…”

“Well, you can have one, show your people some appreciation, or at least have the Lord of the castle show some appreciation, then we can mingle. I would like to have the chance to dazzle the local ladies.”

A chuckle escaped Laurenz, that was an interesting proposition, this mysterious Persian may be on to something.

“I suppose a banquet wouldn’t be so bad…I shall do so, in your honor, then.”

Farhad smiled back at him.
“I will show you the good things that life has to offer, for you have surely forgotten.”

Could he allow himself these simple pleasures? A banquet, music, dancing, happy people, things he had not seen in ages, but in that moment he missed so very much. In that moment the memory of the smell of lavender lingered in his mind.

Description

Farhad had been staying at Castle Schoenberg for a few days, Laurenz took a liking to him and was quite pleased to have some company without having to hide. At first their interactions were pretty formal, Laurenz is naturally reserved as a person, especially with people he doesn’t know well, so most people at this point in time. Farhad’s outward personality and jolly demeanor fascinated him, he viewed him with curiosity and even an amount of envy. Farhad also used the time wisely to observe Laurenz, he’s a very perceptive and highly empathetic person, a remarkable combination for a vampire to have, but these qualities are not often valued among vampires. A view most unwise, for Farhad has a very intimate connection to humans, he understands them and is able to blend in with them quite effectively.

On this particular evening, after having fulfilled their dietary needs, on the castle’s servants, they decided to take a walk around the courtyard by the moonlight. The castle was empty at this hour, even the few guards around seemed to be almost asleep. The fountain attached to the wall across from the main gate caught Farhad’s eye, he went and sat on the ledge of its pool and admired the sound of the water. Laurenz joined him at first in silence, until he found the courage to ask the question that was burning in his mind since their first encounter.

“So, when are you gonna tell me the story?”

Farhad looked up at him with a smile, he understood what he meant, but wasn’t about to let on.
“Which story do you wish to hear, my friend?”

“Well, the circumstances of your exile, of course, I like you, but see it from my perspective, I wouldn’t want to be hiding a fugitive.”

Farhad laughed softly. ”Nothing like that, I have committed no crime, unless telling the truth is a crime, but that is a tale for another night, respectfully, it is a subject which brought me pain. I think we need to first establish some more rapport with each other before I can share this tale.”

Laurenz nodded along thoughtfully, everyone carries some burdens from their past, he shouldn’t press the issue, he wanted to gain his trust.

“I understand, but I can't help but be fascinated by your view on things. I haven’t met another vampire quite like you, is it down to different cultures? What’s the secret?”

“I’m flattered.” Farhad replied. “Alas, not cultural, that’s just how I am, vampires are not that much different from place to place, I noticed. Most of them bask in their power over humans, but never stop to think about the power humans have over us.”

Laurenz looked at him curiously. “Not sure what to make of this, we are clearly and obviously more powerful than them, what power do they hold over us?”

“And yet we cannot survive without them for long. Sure you can go some time feeding on cows, but both you and I know that the blood of a knowing being, an intelligent being is what makes us who we are, this is where we draw our power. Tell me Laurenz, how powerful do you feel when you stand before them with that temptation looming over you, having to battle with yourself to keep your sanity and composure just so you don’t become a killer arbitrarily?”

Once again Laurenz was surprised by his candor, these were thoughts that have occurred to him of course, but never reached his lips.
“You may have a point, I admit being in this particular position doesn’t feel very powerful, perhaps that’s why so many of our kind embrace being predators, having the decision of life or death is a powerful feeling after all, is it not?”

“Only if you’re willing to stake your morality on it, and as you said most of our kind tend to choose the easy way, but they lose themselves, they delude themselves as being in control, but they’re not, the hunger is in control. That is not real power, strength comes with doing the right thing, regardless of consequences. We still get to decide who lives and who dies, the difference is in reasoning.”

“Killing is killing however, at the end of the day, how we justify it doesn’t change the fact that a life was purged.”

“I’d argue that killing a killer saves more lives, the lives the killer would snuff out. But i think i see now why you’re so conflicted, you see morality as black or white, but it is not so. It’s gray, you say killing is bad, but if killing the one who was about to kill you, or to save one more vulnerable, that is not bad, nor is it immoral. You say stealing is bad, but if you steal to feed a starving child, it is not bad or immoral. Intentions are different for each action, exerting power over someone lesser than you, that is evil, no question about it, but using this power to defend is not.”

Laurenz listened to him thoughtfully.
“I know that what you say is true, but still I bear the guilt of my actions regardless, is this not an indicator of evil deeds?”

“Not necessarily, this is your own feelings manifesting, no doubt prompted by a lifelong belief that certain actions are evil no matter what context. I no longer subscribe to such ideas.”
He said with a mischievous smile.
“I too have a question for you, if you don’t mind.”

Laurenz nodded at him.
“I will answer if I can.”

“Have you admitted to yourself your feelings of loneliness?”

That one hit him like a punch in the gut, he tried to conceal his expression but it was obvious that he failed.

“I…” he paused for a moment. “Living in isolation was a choice I made.”

“Well, it’s not working.” Farhad replied. “You made the choice before you knew what it was like and then you stubbornly held on to it for fear of being wrong, is this not the case?”

“I don’t know why I held on to it, it's a possibility, I suppose. Nobody likes being wrong, I’m no different.”

“At least you are willing to address it, but are you gonna do anything about it?”

“Is having a guest not enough?”
“Well, being around your own kind is one thing, but how about your people? The ones who serve you here, don’t you think you should form some connections with them?”

“To what end?They are fleeting.”

“My friend, everything is fleeting, it doesn’t mean we can’t appreciate it, we can make friends with them just as we can our own kind, these relationships being finite only makes them more special. You don’t have to get attached to them either if you don’t wish, but interacting with them is crucial, time brings change to everything, but we remain unchanged, how do you expect to adapt if you don’t blend in?”

Part of him was annoyed that this logic and sensibility eluded him for so long.

“So how do you suggest I do this?”

“You’re in a castle, my friend, when was the last time you had a banquet?”

“I don’t believe I ever had, in all honesty…”

“Well, you can have one, show your people some appreciation, or at least have the Lord of the castle show some appreciation, then we can mingle. I would like to have the chance to dazzle the local ladies.”

A chuckle escaped Laurenz, that was an interesting proposition, this mysterious Persian may be on to something.

“I suppose a banquet wouldn’t be so bad…I shall do so, in your honor, then.”

Farhad smiled back at him.
“I will show you the good things that life has to offer, for you have surely forgotten.”

Could he allow himself these simple pleasures? A banquet, music, dancing, happy people, things he had not seen in ages, but in that moment he missed so very much. In that moment the memory of the smell of lavender lingered in his mind.