August 25th, 1993
Adrian has invited over a friend for some company. Jocelyn is long descended from the witches that Adrian swore to protect, and one of the few confidants that they have. the two are chatting over some wine for the evening.


jocelyn: By the way...

jocelyn: I've figured out that I'm a lesbian.

adrian: Oh?

adrian: Congratulations on becoming a follower of Sappho.

jocelyn: Heh.

jocelyn: You know, I'd been putting off telling you for a while, 'cause I was kinda scared of how you'd respond.

adrian: You were?

jocelyn: Yeah. I dunno, you can be old fashioned sometimes, and I couldn't tell how you'd react.

adrian: Jocelyn, I have been the ally of witches for well over a century now.

adrian: Do you honestly think I have never met a lesbian before?

jocelyn: HA!

jocelyn: Alright, good point.

[adrian leans back and folds their arms.]

adrian: ...In any case, I try to keep my "old fashioned" ways contained within my own quirks and habits.

adrian: I have witnessed the world change and grow, and I have learned many new things.

adrian: Of course, I am certainly more than aware that I am not perfect.

jocelyn: Yeah, that's true.

jocelyn: I mean, c'mon, [REDACTED]. Use a coffee machine like the rest of us!

adrian: My pour-over method produces a much finer result, thank you very much.

jocelyn: Hahahaha. It's too fun to tease you, I swear.

jocelyn: Not to make things totally awkward or anything. Even if you were a woman, I wouldn't try to hit on ya or anything.

adrian: ...

adrian: This does remind me of something, however.

jocelyn: What's up?

adrian: Do not worry about it.

jocelyn: Oh, c'mon. Don't be all coy and mysterious about it.

adrian: ...It is difficult to talk about.

jocelyn: I can tell you want to, though.

adrian: ...

jocelyn: No pressure, of course. But know that I'm willing to lend an ear, alright?

[adrian looks down at their glass of wine for a while.]

adrian: Please promise me that you will not tell a soul about this.

jocelyn: Of course I promise, [REDACTED].

adrian: ...

adrian: For as long as I can remember, I have felt a solemn resignation towards my fate. I was born a half-bloodsucker bastard son, destined to be an outcast, cursed to outlive all those I hold dear.

adrian: There are parts of that I have come to terms with, and parts that I have...not.

jocelyn: Which are?

adrian: Possibly not the parts that you may be expecting.

adrian: I have a confession to make, one that may have overlap with your revelation from earlier.

adrian: ...I have never felt comfortable among men. Not once in my life. There were many reasons why I have formed such a strong bond with witches over the years - shared dangers, namely - but I came to realize something.

adrian: Witch covens are predominantly female. Almost exclusively so, with minor exceptions here and there.

adrian: This, incidentally, was something that came up when I met your ancestors years ago.

jocelyn: Oh, really?

adrian: In 1839, there was quite a controversial stir when Ms. Anna Braunstein recruited me as a bodyguard of sorts.

adrian: The other witches were uncomfortable with a man potentially residing with them. A dhampir, no less. But after much debate, they decided to consult higher powers for guidance. Patron deities were reached out to, fortunes were told, and so on.

adrian: There was a unanimous conclusion: I was to be trusted.

jocelyn: Well, sure. You're standing right here with me all these years later.

adrian: Correct.

adrian: This entire time, I had been assuming that an exception had been made for me. Called it fate, or perhaps just a stroke of luck.

adrian: More recently, I have been wondering... What did the universe know, that I did not?

adrian: ...Perhaps I was never a man to begin with?