symptoms3

- Bisexuality -

Yup, I'm bisexual. A good chunk of vamps and witches I've met and encountered are too. Perhaps its from our empathic abiltiy. Perhaps we see the world differently. *shrug* But what I mean by this, for those who are unfamiliar with the concept, is I see both men and women equally, and think that a person can be loved wholly without regard to gender (as long as they have one!) I, however, have a large distaste for people who claim to be bisexual or homosexual and act like the opposite sex because that is NOT bisexuality and it is NOT homosexuality is just means you have some serious issues with yourself. For instance a man who tries to act feminine and says he's gay or a woman who tries to act masculine and says she's lesbian. Everyone's pretty clear on hetersosexuality, but not homosexuality. True homosexuality is a masculine man with a masculine man or a feminine woman with a feminine woman, and in a way symbolizes and shows the power of each gender just as a heterosexual relationship would.

- Heightened Senses -

Quite simply, we sense what others can't. The hum of a TV, sound of a running VCR, a CD spinning despite loud music. My eyes personally aren't the greatest, but I suspect because of the sun. I can also smell quite well (when I don't have allergies), often smelling things long before anyone else. Only later they'll claim "Oh I smell it now!" I can't really make a claim for taste, because

I haven't really tasted things any other way than I do now, but it seems that I can catch subtle hints of flavors that others miss. Lastly, feeling also appears to be enhanced (vampiric orgasms oh yeah! =P ). We can sense textures and take in sensations to a greater level than most. Perhaps that's why I don't mind pain. It's an altered state of consciousness after all! hehe.

- Increased Athleticism -

It's long been said, even in ancient myths and legends that vampire posess "supernatural" strength, speed, agility, etc. This is one thing that they did get right, but not necessarily to the extent that it's played off as. I, personally, am very strong, very fast reflexes and pretty flexible for a guy. I've been told before that I'm "stronger than I should be" meaning that for my muscle mass (which is in itself pretty good) I shouldn't be as powerful as I am. Similarly, I have very quick reflexes; when I was younger I played catcher in baseball (conveniently the one where you're most shielded from the sun ; ) ) and many people had made mention of my quickness. After all I am a big guy. Lastly, I'm much more flexible than most guys. Mind you, not ALL guys... there are numerous gymnasts, martial artists and so on that are much more flexible than me. However, being neither a gymnast, martial artist, or anything else of the like, I'm more flexible than "mundanes" would be in my situation. And no, I can't put my foot behind my head hehe. The reasons why I don't think any of these are "supernatural" is because they are present in nature and other animals. Chimpanzees for instance, though smaller in size and stature, with smaller muscles, can easily outlift any human and have incredibly powerful arms (often lifting around 1000 lbs. with relative ease. Don't believe me? Go talk to a zoologist... or better yet, try fighting one!) Also, bigger animals have also shown flexibility and speed that makes a vampire's look pitiful. Therfore, there is nothing at all "supernatural" about our strength, speed, agility or anything else.

- Lack of Oxygen within the Blood -

I'm not too incredibly knowledgable on this area, but I have been told by many fellow vampires that doctors have diagnosed them with significantly lower levels of oxygen in their blood. Thinking back to personal experiences, I have very blue veins. Now, blood is obviously red, right? No... only when exposed to oxygen it takes on a crimson color. While in your body it's more of a bluish color. Hence, my blue veins could, scientifically, be the result of lower oxygen levels within my own blood. In fact, as a small child, my doctors thought I had Leukemia because my veins (especially around my shoulders) were so obvious and blue. Fortunately, they did a load of tests and came to the conclusion that I didn't have it.

- Quick Healing -

I would think that quick healing would be the result of increased oxygen, but as I stated before this doesn't seem to be the case. But, for some reason or another, we all seem to heal very quickly. For instance, I have been cut and had the wound heal so quickly the drops of blood were still on me (they had dried into a scab). It's been said that if a human and a vamp were in a car accident, it would be the vamp who survived due to this very principle. Another example is from when I broke my pinky finger as a kid. Mind you it was unnaturally sticking out the side of my hand but the doctor said by all means it should have come clean off. Guess I'm lucky! I woudln't be able to type nearly as fast without that pinky! Also, we heal very quickly from most illnesses. However, if an illness gets to us it often hits us very badly. I'm not a doctor so I can't really describe or explain this to any greater detail, but this is the way it is.

As described we have advantages over humans but we also have considerable disadvantages as well. And DON'T asked to be turned. No one would want to bring you into this even if they could, and it certainly isn't any fairytale.

---Kaelan