Vampires are feared everywhere, but the Balkan region has been especially haunted. Garlic has been regarded as an effective prophylactic against vampires. We wanted to explore this alleged effect experimentally. Owing to the lack of vampires, we used leeches instead. In strictly standardized research surroundings, the leeches were to attach themselves to either a hand smeared with garlic or to a clean hand. The garlic-smeared hand was preferred in two out of three cases (95% confidence interval 50.4% to 80.4%). When they preferred the garlic the leeches used only 14.9 seconds to attach themselves, compared with 44.9 seconds when going to the non-garlic hand (p < 0.05). The traditional belief that garlic has prophylactic properties is probably wrong. The reverse may in fact be true. This study indicates that garlic possibly attracts vampires. Therefore to avoid a Balkan-like development in Norway, restrictions on the use of garlic should be considered.
“Oh no,” the vampire said, tying the dinner napkin around his neck, “you smothered yourself in garlic?” Licking his lips as he pulls out salt and pepper shaker. “Whatever shall I do.”
♠Lestat is confused as to why you’re directing your questions to me, he’s trying to force me to answer what he would answer, but I am pointedly ignoring him.
It’s not of great interest to me, but I will note that he has gone to considerable research about brushing teeth, he and Daniel bring home these little “self-care” packages: toothpaste of different flavors, devices that spray water or have vibrating bristles, and they test these items out on fruit or each other. I sometimes participate.
There are nights that Lestat returns to me from hunting and his breath is truly atrocious, so he has to do some level of cleansing to be permitted within my personal space. I follow the same etiquette for his sake.
In the past, we would have a basin and would wash before going out, and before going to sleep for the day. Little mortal rituals like these keep us feeling that we have some semblance to humanity still, and perhaps, it is also restorative in the way many acts of taking care of oneself are restorative.
However, it’s not necessary for us to brush our teeth in much the same way, I suppose, as it is unnecessary for wild animals. Perhaps it’s because we do not consume cooked meat, refined sugars, or flavored drinks. Fareed suggests that we have saliva with a high Ph value, which protects the enamel from demineralizing and thus prevents cavities.
The vampire awoke with a start as sunshine poured over him. “The light!” he cried, cowering.
“You are alright, there, no fuss,” came the calming reply from the necrophysician. He wiped the monster’s brow with a damp cloth and felt his cheeks and forehead. “Yes, you are doing just fine.”
Tentatively, the vampire sat up and squinted at the window. “But… how?” Gazing at it, he whispered, “Sunlight. It has been so long.”
“Stained glass, enchanted to twist sunlight’s signature in a similar method as the moon. The light will help your healing, you are safe.” The healer explained proudly. Carefully, he pushed the vampire back into the coffin. “Rest now, that stake nearly hit your heart.”
[//ooc; If you are in fact deathly ill, please seek medical attention! This is just a fandom blog.]
♛Serious viral illness is one thing I definitely do not miss about being human. Although, the remedies for these, many of them didn’t exist in my time. Humidifiers! Detox baths! Electrolyte drinks in every color of the rainbow! Medications! We had bone broth and soup, herbal teas.
Art has long been a cure for many kinds of ailments, even if it only serves to provide mental pain relief. Advice on improving your art? Do what you love, explore it with an open mind, don’t criticize your progress too harshly. And share your drawings of us *smiles* Art has healing properties for those who view it, as well *winks*
You asked about hot blood, well, human blood is naturally the same as normal human body temperature at about 98.6°
Fahrenheit, which happens to be a perfectly palatable temperature for vampires. I think we sense it as hotter than that, since
mortals tend to enjoy coffee between 120°-140° Fahrenheit.
A little internet research tells me that:
Cat and dog blood is close to human blood, at 101-102.5° F.
Rat blood is a little less at 96.6-99.5° F. Imagine my poor Louis drinking what is essentially cold, stinky – and furry – coffee for some four years? Disgusting.
Hotter than that… I’ve never measured it but I’m certain our vampiric blood is far hotter than mortal blood. I’ll have to ask Fareed. It tastes hotter. The internet tells me the boiling point of blood is 212° F, and I would believe it if Fareed told me our temperature was near to that.
I’ve never boiled blood or experimented with it to taste, but @roselioncourt certainly has been intrigued by working with blood in the kitchen. Any thoughts on this, ma cocotte? I bought her a cute little chef hat and apron, matching, of course.
((When I was 11, I wrote a terrible short fanfic from the POV of a vampire dog which Lestat had turned as an experiment. I don’t remember anything about it except that the dog was pretty happy as a vampire dog… it’s lost to time and space forever. Just thought that might amuse you!))
IDK about vampire animals in other media, I’m sure someone has done it, but IIRC, they’re not in VC canon at all. I don’t know if AR has considered it, with all the implications that follow. Could the world survive packs of vampire dogs and cats? Herds of vampire horses?
Vampire
Lions?
Vampire
Tigers?
Vampire
Bears? Oh my…. Could a vampire chimpanzee (or rat!) turn a human into a vampire? Would it matter if the animal was a herbivore or would it have to be an omnivore, like humans are? If the vampire lab in PL is still running, maybe they’re experimenting on animals. #FIC REQUEST.
In some religions, animals are considered not to have souls at all, or that they lack the same type of soul that humans have. in VC, the soul seems to be a crucial element in anchoring the vampiric spirit to its host body during Dark Gift transfer.
Also, just physiologically, not all infectious diseases are transmittable between animals and humans. For example, humans cannot get Feline AIDS and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) from cats [animalplanet.com].
Zoonotic diseases: diseases transmitted from animals to humans through media such as air (like influenza) or through bites and saliva (like rabies).
Recycling this from a previous answer; It’s funny you mention vampire animals bc the question was raised, when old age finally started to rear its ugly head for Mojo…
Lestat: What if we could heal him with-
Louis: NO Lestat. No.
Lestat: Just an experiment to-
Louis: We’re not making a vampire dog that’s a crime against nature we have to draw the line somewhere.
Lestat: *pouts*
Louis: *glares*
Lestat: *pouts harder*
Louis: *glares harder*
Lestat: Ok confession time: I already tried to give him a few drops of blood and he was not at all interested. Repulsed really.
Louis: *ragged sigh*
Lestat: It was worth a try!
Louis: Then why were you even asking me?
Lestat: I thought he might prefer yours–
Louis: *slaps Lestat hard across the face and storms out*
I remember hearing about (but not reading) Bunnicula, “a children’s book series written by James Howe, featuring a vampire rabbit that sucks the juice out of vegetables,” but I know that’s not quiiiiite what you were looking for, lol.
^Lookit the widdle fangs! Bunnicula even has the classic “widow’s peak” hairline in their fur like Dracula *u* and a “cape” in the fur?? I think it’s been adapted to an animated series, too.
Other quotes I found about animal-human disease transmission:
“While most feline infectious diseases affect only cats, and most human infectious diseases affect only humans, it is important to be aware that some of these diseases—called zoonotic diseases—can be transmitted between cats and people.” [X]
“The general rule is that viruses have a narrow range of suitable living conditions (ie body temperature, metabolism etc) and are not easily passed between species. There are some exceptions to this, but the common cold is not one of them and you will not pass it on to your cats, it cannot live in their higher body temperature.” [X]
Also relevant is zombie animals. In The Walking Dead, there are no zombie animals, and I found a forum where ppl were discussing it (walkingdeadforums.com), whether it’s true that the original comic artist set the canon for that bc he “does not enjoy drawing animals so much,” or whether there might be a scientific reason for it…. Zombie animals are as equally debatable as vampire animals!
♛Joyeux Noël to you. How thoughtful to ask what I want *grins*
Among other things, I would like a VeinViewer to use on David. Is this not one of the most intensely cool things? I know where major veins are, of course, but the detail in this device, the specific locations, so many possible erogenous zones to discover…
I don’t think that’s a paradox at all! Gabrielle could have a lab somewhere in a rural little town, w/ internet access and equipment to study whatever natural phenomena she likes, and I bet she would have preferences for sleeping in different kinds of soil, the different textures and scents. Maybe with the vampire Eleni at her side…
She loves the act of climbing out of the earth every night, like a plant pushing it’s way up, killing her breakfast, and then rinsing off in a stream or waterfall…
I-want-my-IWTV 