Grayson
Oh God... I'm English!
I'd like to submit that the subject of vampirism has gotten somewhat tangled with the separate subject of physical immunity/immortality. The romantic vampire of today's popular literature is first and foremost a beautiful, incorruptible IMMORTAL. The conventional pre-1800's vampire, however was a fetid, monstrous revenant. A horrible creature that chewed its own limbs and clumsily attacked its own family!
But NON-supernatural highly-immune people ("immortals" if you will) are more plausible and might fit most of the definition of a romantic vampire. Consider if the occasional human has come along (through genetic mutations) with expanded resistance to disease, superior healing abilities, and/or slowed natural aging. These people could be killed, but only through direct injury (burning, blood loss, hanging,etc.). In more ignorant times, would be branded as 'witches' as soon as their talent was noticed and subject to a very REAL death!To protect themselves from suspicion, that meant a wandering life (ex. Casanova, St. Germaine), or one of quiet isolation. Some even believed the hysteria of their day, and made themselves into the supernatural beings others believed them to be (ex. Rasputin).
A successful immortal, who worked to integrate themselves would be a charming but imposing individual. They would possess lifetimes of experience that make them a bit 'larger-than-life'. They would be highly intelligent, and accumulate wealth and status. They may retain the tastes of an earlier day, and have adopted dated romantic modes of dress and social comportment. They would generally (except for perhaps a single lifetime) avoid the public limelight.
But for the lack of murderous blood-drinking, does this not sound like an Angel, Spike, Lestat, or a Dracula-like character?
I'm just speaking hypothetically of course! 😉
Your feedback is welcome.
But NON-supernatural highly-immune people ("immortals" if you will) are more plausible and might fit most of the definition of a romantic vampire. Consider if the occasional human has come along (through genetic mutations) with expanded resistance to disease, superior healing abilities, and/or slowed natural aging. These people could be killed, but only through direct injury (burning, blood loss, hanging,etc.). In more ignorant times, would be branded as 'witches' as soon as their talent was noticed and subject to a very REAL death!To protect themselves from suspicion, that meant a wandering life (ex. Casanova, St. Germaine), or one of quiet isolation. Some even believed the hysteria of their day, and made themselves into the supernatural beings others believed them to be (ex. Rasputin).
A successful immortal, who worked to integrate themselves would be a charming but imposing individual. They would possess lifetimes of experience that make them a bit 'larger-than-life'. They would be highly intelligent, and accumulate wealth and status. They may retain the tastes of an earlier day, and have adopted dated romantic modes of dress and social comportment. They would generally (except for perhaps a single lifetime) avoid the public limelight.
But for the lack of murderous blood-drinking, does this not sound like an Angel, Spike, Lestat, or a Dracula-like character?
I'm just speaking hypothetically of course! 😉
Your feedback is welcome.
