sixwordstories | (no subject)

*He hesitates for a moment, but then decides that he can hardly do more harm by telling.*

Well, I'm not dead. Or undead. Or supernatural in any way. No shape-changing or flying, I don't care about crosses, and as I've said, I like garlic.

So the only thing that remains is an issue with sunlight and you drink blood. Interesting. You said you don't need to kill. Blood banks?

Yes. *Every now and then, he has to hunt, but he hasn't lied. Nobody dies in these cases.*

It's like with many things that have become myths over time. They may have some truth at their core, but the rest is fiction.

[He chuckles, slightly amused.]

Well, that is the definition of myth. It wouldn't be believable if there wasn't some truth to it.

Sure. Although without all the exaggeration that made the myth, things would easier in a way.

Well, I suppose it would be easier in one sense... But, somethings are true in every myth. The thrill of the hunt...

[Yes, he knows it's there.]

*He looks away, feeling suddenly ashamed.*

That's ... one of the things that aren't made up, yes.

[He nods, he saw as much.]

Yet you choose not to kill. So how do you feed that desire?

Most of us choose to live like this.

And I keep myself busy with other things. Running works fine, for example. The good thing is, I can mostly ignore it until, well, there is a hunt.

A hunt? More than one of you at a time, then?

Oh, no. We're mostly solitary. But it's not impossible that we get into a situation in which we have to hunt.

You said you don't kill unless you have to. A willing participant is hardly a hunt.

There's not always a willing participant. But as I've said, there's still no need to kill.

Severely mame?

No. It's not even necessary to cause much harm.

Interesting. Explain.

[Rarely does he say 'explain' in invitation as he just did.]

*Explaining these things to someone who seems interested and not outright hostile doesn't happen often to him.*

Well, of course we harm the person we take the blood from simply by doing that. But the amount we need isn't high enough to cause severe damage; and the wounds we cause do heal.

[Sherlock's expression darkens slightly.]

You might do better to find some individuals who would be willing to cater to... your needs.

Of course. What I've just described is what I'd have to do in an emergency. When there is no such person or a blood bank, and no time to wait.

[Sherlock is disappointed.]

Why do you allow yourself to get into such a state.

[Says the man who doesn't eat when he's working a case because 'digestion slows him down.']

I try not to, but do you get into an emergency situation voluntarily? It's not that I forget building up stocks or something.

*He tries not to sound irritated, but this is something he really takes care of, because it's important to him not to cause more harm that absolutely unavoidable.*

[He catches the tone.]

I suppose.

*Julian nods, regaining his calm demeanor.*

It doesn't happen often now. Although I won't lie ... not all of us are that considerate.

Course not. And how many of you... are there?

That's hard to tell. A few dozen to hundred in a city, maybe more if it's a larger one. It varies. And we don't have a census.