( he has not concerned himself with the larger scope of vampire politics for some decades now. dallas is his domain, and though he has been offered an area kingship more than once by the authority he has always felt he has exactly as much power as he wants. he glances down at his hands, tips his head to one side. )

The vampires of my world are as wide and varied as its humans as far as such philosophies go. Some are peaceable. There are ones among us who have never frenzied, have never taken from an unwilling human even in their infancy. And there are those that have slaughtered countless innocents to slake their bloodlust. I fear the latter to be far more frequent. The former requires a very strong sense of self in one's mortal life, that one may overcome our baser instincts, and a sire who will foster that sense of self.

( he lifts one shoulder in a faint shrug. appius compelled him to feed on his own countrymen in the slave quarters. it was a punishment. he supposes a different sire may have compelled him just as easily to abstain. )

I am no exception, but my view of humanity is a rare one among my kind. I do not think very much like a vampire any more.