"Alan...you don't know what you're asking for." Rachel responded to Alan's request.
"I think I was quite clear in what I was asking." Alan responded.
Both of them had sat up at this point and though they were in the nude. That didn't distract them from their very serious conversation.
"If you turn me into a vampire, then I'll at least be able to help you if something happens. I'd rather do that than be the little human off to the side."
"You know I don't think of you like that."
"But that's how I feel! It doesn't matter whether or not you say it. Too many times have I just allowed things to happen without doing something, without fighting back in some way. This would be my chance to change that."
They both went silent, the words hanging in the air. Rachel, after a bit of an internal debate, shook her head.
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because it wouldn't be fair to you! Think about it. The reality of being a vampire is far different than what you think it is. It's not fun and games."
"I didn't say that."
"But you haven't thought about the fact that you would have to kill others for your survival, did you?"
Alan blinked in surprise, giving Rachel the answer she expected.
"It's more than just that." Rachel continued. "The fact is, a newborn would be very easy to detect, especially considering that you're constantly among humans. You would easily give us away. Vampires who can't hide their presence are easily detected by other vampires."
"Even past all of that though, as I said, it's not fair to you. Becoming a vampire is like being born again. Even though you retain your memory, there's no guarantee that you'd retain your humanity or emotions. In my case, for example, it took me years before I actually began feeling emotions again, aside from my loyalty to Caleb."
"You may be willing to risk all of that. But then, you wouldn't be the normal, ordinary Alan Brooks that I had fallen in love with. Neither you nor I can predict just how becoming a vampire could change you."
"Is it really that big of a change?"
Rachel nodded. "Yes. My first few years as a vampire, I was nothing more than a, for lack of a better expression, a lovesick puppy. As a human, I was never like that. I was also never as promiscuous as I am now as a human. Think of Michael Corleone in The Godfather. What happened to him as he gained power?"
"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Alan responded.
"Exactly. You know your Shakespeare. But that strengthens my point, doesn't it?"
"I would never..."
"And how many others have said that? Can you really guarantee that? Just how many people in both fiction and history have fallen to the corruption of their own power?"
"And there are also examples of those who changed for the better as well, it's not all bad..."
"That's why I don't want to risk it. You and I can't predict the future, and I don't want to risk losing you as you are. To me, you're perfect as you are. Just normal, boring, plain old, Alan Brooks."
They again went silent, but only for a few moments.
"I'm sorry." Alan began. "I didn't realize it would be such a big deal to you."
Rachel shook her head. "No, I'm glad we had this conversation. I'll make you a deal though. I'll turn you only as a last resort, when I have no other choice. I can only hope that when I do, you'll remember this discussion we had."
"You seem really adamant that I'll change."
"I've been around for sixty two years as a vampire, so I have seen my fair share of newborns enter the vampire world. Most of them did change, and in most cases, it wasn't for the better. I'm sorry if it sounds like I doubt you, but, I won't apologize for the way I think. I've seen it happen too many times."
Alan smiled a small smile. "I'm suddenly reminded of Death Note."
"Death Note?"
"Another really good anime I watch. The story revolves around this really smart high school kid named Light Yagami who comes across this notebook called the Death Note that allows him to kill anyone he wants so long as he has a name and face."
"At first, he tries to do the 'noble' thing and kills criminals with the Death Note. As time goes on, however, he becomes more and more extreme, and simply starts killing anyone who gets in his way. It's a really good story." Alan explained.
"We'll have to watch it sometime."
"It's really good, and it's definitely a show that makes you think."
A silence fell between them again. But this time, it was a more comfortable silence. Although, for some reason, it still really hadn't dawned on either of them that they were still in the nude.
"Well, we'll have to do that later, right now, I want to continue listening to all of these songs you've got. We only got to the one...uh...One Winged Angel, was it?" Rachel asked, lightening the mood.
Alan smiled and nodded. "Allright."
"Are most of these songs instrumental like we just heard, aside from some chanting?" Rachel asked.
Alan nodded again, moving to his computer. "Most are, yes, but a few others have vocals. Almost all of those are romantic songs for the most part."
"Ooo, let's hear those." Rachel suggested.
Alan decided to start with his favorite song from this category, Eyes On Me.
Rachel was almost speechless right from the start. "Wow...this is beautiful. This was in a video game?"
Alan nodded as he sat next to her. "Yep. Final Fantasy 8."
"Wow..." Rachel repeated. "Are all of them this good?"
"Depends on your tastes, but I like them all." Alan said as the song finished. Next up was I am the Wind.
Rachel was again stunned, and noticed that these songs were setting quite a mood. Rachel began glancing over at Alan. He seemed to be oblivious to it, but she wasn't. These were probably really good lovemaking songs, and were setting that exact mood at the moment. It also helped that they were both sitting here, naked, which Rachel had finally become aware of.
Alan next went with If You Still Believe as Rachel interrupted him. "Alan?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you do me a favor?"