Vampire metaphysics

[butterfly]

Prompted by a question from inyron on demon metaphysics, I've decided to share my own personal theory on the matter.

I think that Jossverse vampires do have blood circulation. Vamps bleed, they have sex, they cry and heal. Everything seems functional, but it works on a different system.

Angel speaks but doesn't 'have breath'. Darla drinks blood but cannot nourish her child. Therefore, I propose that vampire systems are incompatible with human systems. When the issue is forced, the demon consumes the humanity that it comes in contact with (which makes Connor's 'baby safety shield' a necessity -- it was protecting him from his mother's infectious blood).

Whether this is because of how the first vampire was created or whether it's demon thing, I am undecided.

Illyria worked in a similar way -- save only that we haven't seen evidence that her contagion will spread beyond Fred.

Comments

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Theoretically plausible, to this point. We'll have to wait and see on Illyria. Vampire as infectious disease is a workable metaphor.

But I'm still too mesmerized by PFD Panda (http://www.livejournal.com/users/dlgood/23845.html#cutid1) to give you better thoughts on the matter.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

Dude, that's an interesting picture.

[theamyrlin.livejournal.com]

It is established that vampire hearts do not beat, though, so circulation of blood by the heart is impossible.

Clearly, the blood does circulate in some way, because vampire guys can seal the deal just fine. Now, when vampires are cut, they bleed, but their blood does not spurt out, as if they were living. I think that the magic that holds the human body together, and keeps it from decomposing even though it is dead, also accounts for the circulation of vampire blood. It has to be involved with the magic of vampire immortality.

The magic protects the vampire from death, decay, and aging, but can be broken up by a stake through the heart, beheading, fire, swallowing holy water, and sunlight. What I think is amazing is that there are ways to prevent the "magic" from breaking up the body (The Gem of Amara, having the vampire heart surgically removed -- though this works only temporarily).

Yeah, I think I've thought about this anomaly a little bit too much. :-)

It is interesting when you put it into context with what happened to Fred. Illyria may have the potential to infect others, though, from what that Gatekeeper Guy said. (If they saved Fred, thousands of other people would die because of... what was it? Something.) Maybe uncontained, it is incredibly infectious.

Anyway, as always, I love reading about things like this in your journal. :-)

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

It is established that vampire hearts do not beat, though, so circulation of blood by the heart is impossible.

Clearly, the blood does circulate in some way, because vampire guys can seal the deal just fine. Now, when vampires are cut, they bleed, but their blood does not spurt out, as if they were living. I think that the magic that holds the human body together, and keeps it from decomposing even though it is dead, also accounts for the circulation of vampire blood. It has to be involved with the magic of vampire immortality.

Less circulation than... seepage. It moves, but by magic. Blood powers the mystical engine of the vampire and while it waits, it moves about slowly in the dead and open chambers of veins and arteries.

It is interesting when you put it into context with what happened to Fred. Illyria may have the potential to infect others, though, from what that Gatekeeper Guy said. (If they saved Fred, thousands of other people would die because of... what was it? Something.) Maybe uncontained, it is incredibly infectious.

Because Illyria would rip into every soul on the way back to its prison. I wonder if he meant that metaphorically or literally.

[blendwiththebad.livejournal.com]

me too, depsite how much i "dislike" a lot of whedons ideas on this.

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

I simply take the Jossverse vampire as something separate from other vampires. It has its own mythology and purpose.

[inyron.livejournal.com]

Thanks for addressing the question. It's funny- you're right, vampires bleed and heal and cry and speak. Yet the question my roommate finally asks is about sex. ;)

I think you're right. They have to work on a diffrent system. They have to work somehow.

It reminds me of Soul Purpose (I think) when Fred was cutting all of Angel's unneccesary organs out. He doesn't need them. What does he need? What can you take out to make him stop working?

[butterfly.livejournal.com]

What can you take out to make him stop working?

I think it lies in how you can kill them -- heart and head. Both necessary (and both are the parts that survive the soul death of the person -- heart and emotions continue while morality and soul fail).